Jeurys Familia is almost certain to be dealt at this year’s MLB Trade Deadline on July 31, as with an expiring contract on a team that is 39-54, he will be targeted by many others.
However, the 28-year old spoke to Steve Gelbs of SNY before yesterday’s game and made it clear he wishes that weren’t the case right now.
“I don’t want to leave here. I want to stay here. I’ve just played here in New York, always been here. Sometimes I think, man, it’s like a start over. It’s hard.”
Well, this is the human element of trades being shown again. Everyone saw it with Wilmer Flores back in 2015 and now, once again, Familia is exhibiting it as well.
The fact is, as people who just watch sports, we tend to just look at the game as a business and ignore the fact that these moves affect real peoples’ lives.
Occasionally, as in that quote shown above, we get something different, though. Familia clearly doesn’t want to leave the organization he has been with since he was 18, back in 2008. He doesn’t want to leave the MLB team that he has been a member of since 2012.
Between the team’s 2015 World Series run and all 123 saves he has in orange-and-blue, he has memories that will last him a lifetime, no matter where he resides after the deadline.
That being said, his track record makes him almost a certain to be dealt, as relievers are always valued around this point in the season.
Familia has been pretty good this year too, despite missing some time with a shoulder injury. The right-hander has a 4-4 record to go along with 17 saves, 2.88 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings pitched.
So, while he is almost certain to be dealt in the near future, we should all remember and appreciate the human sentiment and devotion to his team Jeurys Familia put on display on Saturday.
