"Stick" Michael was the one who stood up and urged them not to trade Mariano - but George sat down with Bernie with rumors circulating he was signing with the Sux and worked out a deal one on one. Remember George's suspension prebuilding the dynasty team of the 90's = Stick & Bob Watson put that team together. One thing that analytics doesn't factor in but is key to any championship - team chemistry. Think back to the early winning months - Gallo & Hicks were playing every day - everyone was pulling for Joey to start hitting. Then the rumors start about the trade deadline, that Gallo has to go - just happens to coincide with when we started losing those close games, making base-running mistakes, errors - and of course the injuries to key pitchers especially. You don't mess with something that's working.

What's to say that Soto would have fared well in NY??? that Castillo (though I think he would) would handle NY media & fans and pitch like a stud?? We'll never know because even should at some future they become Yankees they'll be older and maybe past the prime - remember Randy Johnson, Sonny Gray, Gary SHeffield