Gio: Can't blame Brian Cashman for reportedly backing out of Jack Flaherty trade

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal , the Yankees backed out of a tentative trade agreement with the Tigers that would have brought Jack Flaherty to the Bronx before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Per Rosenthal, the Yankees learned that Flaherty had recently had multiple injections in his lower back, and feared they could be acquiring a potential problem, and pulled the plug. Flaherty then went to the Dodgers shortly before the deadline.

Given recent trade history for the Yankees, Gio doesn’t fault Brian Cashman at all for backing out of those trade discussions.

“It reminds me of [2022] when they traded for a man named Frankie Montas. It didn’t work out when they traded for damaged goods,” Gio said. “There’s no way you can tell me that doesn’t affect a general manager.”

The Yankees could have used another starter, especially after Gerrit Cole gave fans a scare earlier in the day when he was scratched from Tuesday’s start due to “general body fatigue.” And even while the return from Los Angeles wasn’t robust for the soon-to-be free agent, Gio doesn’t fault Cashman for declining to give up assets for a potential problem.

“I’m telling you,” Gio said. “Brian Cashman said, ‘I’m not trading for damaged goods again.’”