Yankees-Rays rain delay came with incredibly ironic trade deadline timing

Billy Heyen

Yankees-Rays rain delay came with incredibly ironic trade deadline timing image

There were only three MLB games scheduled on Thursday. 

It is a standard travel day, yes, but it's also MLB trade deadline day. It makes sense that teams wouldn't want potentially moved pieces involved in games, or to have rosters shorthanded after deals before other players arrive.

But one of the three games, and the only one in the afternoon before the deadline passed, was the New York Yankees hosting the Tampa Bay Rays.

And ironically, it went to a rain delay just hours before the deadline.

Right about at the same time as the delay, the Yankees completed a trade for Pirates reliever David Bednar. It's not like the front office folks needed the rain delay to focus on getting the deal done, but it was fun timing.

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The Rays also have some trade rumors ongoing, so maybe the rain is the best thing for both teams to just get whatever deals they have in the works over the finish line.

The game was also called at a curious spot. 

The Yankees have runners on first and third in the bottom of the fifth with one out. But notably, the Yanks hold a 7-4 lead.

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Because they're the home team, and because the visiting Rays have hit five times, and because the Yankees are ahead, the game actually could be called and ruled an official game.

As divisional opponents, and with the game not a total blowout, the league would probably prefer they resume the game at some point, even if it's not on Thursday.

But there's definitely a chance it gets ruled official. It'd be a big win for the Yankees, aided by early homers from Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice.

Happy deadline day, one that was only a gameday for a handful of teams, including the Yankees. As long as they get a win, they won't mind the busy day.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle