The Yankees were already in a free fall. Then came the knockout punch as Aaron Judge headed to the injured list. General Manager Brian Cashman had to act quickly. Third baseman Ryan McMahon was already signed. It was followed by the second move, acquiring Amed Rosario from the Nationals. As a Met in 2020, Rosario hit a walk-off home run against the Yankees in their own ballpark. Now he is coming to the Bronx again, this time in pinstripes.

Soon after the trade, Rosario faced the New York media for an interview. Speaking through his interpreter, he shared his honest reaction to the news. “Honestly, my initial reaction was that I couldn’t really believe it at first,” he admitted, before adding, “At the end of the meeting, I even asked again to confirm: ‘Was I really traded to the Yankees?’”

The news meant he woke up early at4:20 a.m., catching a flight to immediately join his new team ahead of their upcoming game against the Rays.

Asked how he would help the Yanks, Rosario’s answer was simple and direct. “I think I’ll be able to contribute,” he said. “I love going out and playing hard—it’s just how I play the game. That energy should help me fit in here.”

The most powerful moment of all, however, was when he was asked about returning to New York. “It feels amazing,” Rosario said with a smile. “There’s a saying in Spanish: ‘a good son always comes back home.’ I’m truly happy for this opportunity from the Yankees and excited to be back.”

He also revealed he always believed he would don the pinstripes someday. “Absolutely. At some point in my career, I felt that something like this would happen—and here I am, playing for the Yankees.”

While excited about his next phase, Rosario also looked back at his stint with the rebuilding Nationals. He was proud to play his part as a veteran leader on a young team. “I helped a lot, I think,” he said before departing Washington. “Especially the young players. I kind of showed them the hard work I put every day, so I hope they take that from me.”

His professionalism and character received an endorsement from Nationals Manager Mike Hargrove, who referred to him as “a pro.”

Rosario’s journey, so far, has been a long and winding one, filled with highs, lows, and many different uniforms.

Rosario’s road to the Bronx

Rosario began his career as a top prospect for the Mets in 2017. His most productive season in Queens came in 2019, when he hit 15 home runs and drove in 72 runs. But he struggled at shortstop — with a miserable -10 Defensive Runs Saved that season. And in 2021, he was traded to Cleveland in the Francisco Lindor trade. There, he slashed .283 with nine triples and, crucially, led the major leagues in infield hits, with 35.

Since leaving Cleveland, Rosario has become the ideal trade deadline acquisition for the suitors. Over the past three seasons, he has been dealt from Cleveland to the Dodgers, signed by the Rays, traded by the Rays to the Dodgers, and then claimed off waivers by the Reds before signing with the Nationals. As Rosario himself put it, “I feel great because whenever teams are in playoff contention, they always acquire me towards the end.”

Of course, Rosario is not the only new face in the Yankees’ clubhouse. Ryan McMahon is there as well. After 13 seasons with the Rockies, McMahon acknowledged that it felt “weird” at first. But he was excited at the same time. “This is every kid’s dream when you are 9 or 10 years old hitting in the backyard in Game 7 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium,” he said. “I’m more excited to be part of this lineup… I’m just happy to be part of that.”

Both acquisitions thrilled Yankees manager Aaron Boone, especially the landing of Rosario. “He’s actually been a guy who we’ve tried to kind of get the last couple of years,” Boone said. He lauded the infielder’s versatility and production against left-handed pitchers. “He makes our bench and the balance of our roster a little more workable,” the manager further added, highlighting the strategic value of the trades.

With these two acquisitions, the Yankees have a roadmap to save their season. At 57-48 and 5.5 games out, they will use their new pieces to create better matchups. The platoon strategy with Rosario and McMahon offers the Yanks the depth and platoon flexibility they need for a very desperate playoff push.