Once again, the New York Yankees failed to strike a big deal at the trade deadline.

General manager Brian Cashman took his usual approach to the biggest date of the season, making marginal moves while other contenders took big swings. At least help will still be on the way soon for Aaron Boone's rotation.

According to MLB.com, star hurler Carlos Rodon took another step on his way back from a left elbow injury, and it shouldn't be long before he's back on the mound.

Carlos Rodon is inching closer to a return 

“Threw approximately 40 pitches in live BP on Aug. 3 at Yankee Stadium. Expects to be in a Minor League rehab setting for his next outing, potentially Aug. 8,” read the report.

Once again, Cashman framed Rodon's return as a potential reinforcement, according to MLB insider Bryan Hoch. While that makes sense to a degree, it was still a disappointing outlook for a team with World Series aspirations.

"Brian Cashman said the Yankees 'shopped in that [bullpen] aisle pretty heavily, to no avail.' He pointed to Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt coming back as a way of 'deepening our staff that way,'" Hoch shared on X.

Rodon hasn't been able to do much for the Yankees this season, logging a 4-2 record with a 3.30 ERA in nine appearances. Still, keeping him healthy for the final stretch of the season could be paramount if he recovers his former form.

They're also waiting for Aaron Judge (rib), Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John) to return. The Yankees have split the past 10 games, but they're still in second place in the AL East with a 63-50 record.