July 10, 2028—The New York Yankees, in a bold move designed to end the club’s 18-year playoff drought, agreed today to acquire Milwaukee pitcher Danny Hummetin in exchange for top prospect Salvador Sifuentes and three other minor-leaguers.
A Yankees official confirmed the deal, which both teams will officially announce later today. The Yankees are expected to have the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner on the mound as early as tonight’s home game against the Cleveland Native Americans (formerly the Indians). In addition to Sifuentes, minor-league pitchers Jack Cracker and two other players to be named later are also said to be part of the deal.
Hummetin, 25, was placed on the trade market when Milwaukee fell into last place in its division and was unable to sign him to a contract extension. Hummetin is a free agent after this season.
The Yankees, who are in third place in the American League East, are hoping the acquisition of Sifuentes will boost them into post-season play for the first time since 2010. That would help the team break what many fans now call the “Torre Hex,” a reference to the team’s treatment of beloved manager Joe Torre back in 2007. Torre resigned that year after former owner George Steinbrenner offered him a one-year contract that included a paycut and a variety of conditions.
The Yankees went to the post-season in each of the nine years that Torre managed them and won ten American League East Division titles, six American League pennants and four World Series titles. The team has only made it to the post-season twice since Torre’s departure. Meanwhile, Torre went on to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading that team to two National League pennants and a World Series title before retiring in 2013.
