With Blockbuster Trades, the Yankees Embrace the Moment

The Yankees must translate that feeling onto the field, of course. Gerrit Cole gave up seven earned runs in five and a third innings on Thursday, and the Yankees did not score, missing a chance for a three-game sweep of the Rays. But behind the scenes, at least, they were acting like the aggressive, win-now brand they are.

“Part of the reason why I’m here is because Hal always goes for it; so does Brian,” said Cole, who signed with the Yankees before the 2020 season. “So I really feel fortunate to be in a spot where the club’s going to make a fantastic move like that and continue to push chips in.”

While Gallo has never played in the postseason, Rizzo, who is batting .248 with 14 home runs this season, helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series, hitting .410 with three homers, 10 runs batted in and a 1.258 on-base plus slugging percentage across the team’s final 10 postseason games.

Just as important, at least in Cubs’ lore, was Rizzo’s clubhouse routine before Game 5 of the World Series against Cleveland, when the Cubs trailed the series three games to one. Rizzo blasted the “Rocky” theme through the clubhouse and exhorted the team with motivational tips — while naked. (Hey, whatever works.)

“The year before that, we were down 3-0 to the Mets and we ended up getting swept,” Rizzo said a couple of years later, referring to the 2015 N.L.C.S. “So the next year when we were down 3-1, it just kind of flipped. It was like: ‘No, we’re not doing this, we’re good, we’ve won three games in a row before. We’re going to take care of business and go to Cleveland.’”

When it was over, the last out of the World Series ended up in Rizzo’s glove. The Cubs had been waiting 108 years for that moment, and Rizzo was instrumental in making it happen. To him, the Yankees’ 11-year title drought must seem paltry.