People thought Brian Cashman was going to sit on his hands and let thing s simply out. People thought the team suddenly realized it was hampered by a $200 million payroll and the front office said that was enough. People were wrong.

Maybe if the New York Yankees had not made a mad dash toward the pennant starting just before the All Star weekend at Yankee Stadium the team would be silent as the trade deadline approached. But not if the team found itself within three games of first in the American League East and one game within the potential wild card spot held by the hated Boston Red Sox.

No, Yankees tickets will be more than just an excuse to the see the end of an ea at the house that Ruth built. The trade with the Pirates that brought a good outfielder in Xavier Nady and bullpen relief in with Damaso Marte was the first sign.

Then the gods appear to be working against the Yankees when Jorge Posada is announced to have season-ending surgery. What do the Yankees do? They go out and trade for Pudge Rodriguez, a rare catcher who is an everyday player and a decent hitter. Posada might not have been a terrific hitter this season, but he was an established veteran who was part of the heart of the team.

Rodriguez has proven throughout the years that he has the heart, so now he brings enough love for the game to aid the loss of a key locker room player, but a bat that could help as well. The Yankees traded a key reliever in Kyle Farnsworth, who was already taking Joba’s spot after he was moved to the spot as an emergency starter. Marte will fill in nicely holding games in the eighth for Mariana Rivera.

The moves by the Yankees bring them closer to the playoffs and closer to possible World Series tickets in the final year at Yankee Stadium. Of course, that is still 50 and some odd number of games down the road, but a Yankees fan can hope. Maybe the Yankees can end up playing the Cubs in a meeting of fairy tale endings and Pudge can call his shot to straight center at Yankee Stadium.