Fansided

The 10 biggest what-if MLB trades that never happened since 2000

By Steve Zavala

NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 2010 in the Bronx borough of Manhattan. The Yankees defeated the Rangers 5 - 2. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 2010 in the Bronx borough of Manhattan. The Yankees defeated the Rangers 5 - 2. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 16: Gary Sanchez /

MLB what-if No. 4: 2014 — Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino to the Atlanta Braves

The Yankees are historically known for being a team that has no patience whatsoever. Some teams are content with rebuilding, but not the Yankees. They are a franchise with winning in their DNA and will do whatever it takes at whatever cost to become an immediate championship-contending team.

But sometimes, being patient is a virtue.

Case in point this what-if from 2014. The Yankees were heading into the season with quite an aging team, including past-their-prime veterans such as Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran — both of whom were not capable of putting up 4.0+ bWAR seasons anymore.

In hopes of improving the team and making the most out of the 2014 season, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman looked for any ways to add quality, MLB-ready talent. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, this 10-player proposed trade from the Atlanta Braves was one deal that Cashman had been offered back in 2014.

In a short-term picture, this offer must have been tempting to Cashman. Andrelton Simmons was emerging as a defensive gem and had the potential to replace Derek Jeter out at shortstop. Jason Heyward seemed destined to become a perennial Gold Glove outfield talent with his ability to play the center or right field positions. BJ (Melvin) Upton, David Carpenter and Chris Johnson were not cornerstone pieces but rather key players for depth.

Cashman refused to pull the trigger on the multi-player deal and as they say, the rest is history. His commitment to retooling the team through its farm system is a key reason for why they have returned to being a current World Series contender once again. Aaron Judge has become the face of the franchise while Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino have proved to be valuable contributors to the team. Cashman also wound up bolstering the team’s farm system by trading for players such as Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier along the way.

If Cashman had gone ahead with this deal, the Braves might have had a current dynasty of their own.

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