Aaron Judge's 36th homer wasn't enough as the Yankees' bullpen collapsed in a 7-4 loss to the Braves on July 18, highlighting urgent trade deadline needs.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another day, another reminder of the razor-thin margin for error in the AL East. Friday night’s 7-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves felt like a microcosm of the Yankees’ mid-season dilemma: flashes of MVP-caliber brilliance from Aaron Judge, a solid-but-not-dominant start from Nestor Cortes, and a bullpen that cracked under pressure. As the team falls 2.5 games behind the Orioles, the loss serves as a blaring siren for General Manager Brian Cashman, with the July 31 trade deadline fast approaching.
The Yankees' bullpen gave up four runs in the seventh and eighth innings, surrendering a lead built by Aaron Judge's 36th home run.
The game started with promise. Aaron Judge continued his torrid pace, launching a two-run blast—his 36th of the year—in the third inning to give the Yankees an early lead. He finished the night 2-for-4 with 3 RBI, doing everything he could to carry the offense. Starter Nestor Cortes battled for 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out seven, keeping the team in the fight. But the narrative flipped late, as it has too often this season. The usually reliable bullpen faltered, with Caleb Ferguson giving up a crucial go-ahead, two-run double to Sean Murphy in the seventh, sealing the Yankees' fate.
The timing of the bullpen's collapse couldn't be more poignant. Earlier in the day, GM Brian Cashman confirmed the front office is aggressively pursuing upgrades before the July 31 deadline. The priorities are clear: another reliable arm for the starting rotation, bullpen reinforcements, and a solution at third base. With Clarke Schmidt officially lost for the season to Tommy John surgery, the need for pitching is dire. Names like Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon are being floated, and the cost could be steep. Will top prospect Spencer Jones, who is tearing it up at Triple-A, be the key to landing a game-changing piece?
While the trade market heats up, help may also be coming from within. Right-hander Luis Gil, who has been sidelined all season with a lat injury, is getting closer to a return. He's made two dominant rehab starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, striking out 13 batters over 8 scoreless innings. His potential return to the rotation in late July or early August could be the internal boost the pitching staff desperately needs, effectively acting as a trade acquisition without the cost.
Looking further ahead, the Yankees' 2025 draft class offers a clear window into their organizational philosophy. The focus was squarely on players with elite strike zone control, both at the plate and on the mound. Infielders like Dax Kilby and Kaeden Kent were praised for their advanced approach, while pitchers like LHP Pico Kohn and RHP Rory Fox were selected for their command. The potential steal of the draft might be 9th-round RHP Blake Gillespie, who posted a stellar 2.42 ERA with an eye-popping 131-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio at Charlotte.
Friday's loss was a frustrating setback, dropping the Yankees' record to 53-44. While projections still favor them for a 92-win season and a playoff berth, games like this prove that potential means nothing without execution. The next two weeks are critical. The team needs to stack wins, and Brian Cashman needs to make the right moves to patch the leaks. With Luis Gil's return pending and the trade deadline clock ticking, the character of this 2025 Yankees team is about to be forged.
