REPORT: Yankees list 4 crucial star on trade block
The Yankees (53-32) remain a top team in the MLB despite their recent struggles. However, to secure their first championship since 2009, they need significant upgrades through trades before the July 30th deadline.
The pitching staff has been a major concern, with a 5.42 ERA in June, following 2.37 in May and 3.22 in April. The bullpen, now tied for ninth with a 3.59 ERA after a strong start, has also been shaky.
Infield depth is also lacking due to Anthony Rizzo’s injury and inconsistent performances from DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres. Anthony Volpe has been a bright spot, slashing .264/.319/.395 with six homers and 28 RBI.
Big names like Athletics’ closer Mason Miller, Mets’ Pete Alonso, and Blue Jays’ Vlad Guerrero Jr. have been linked to New York, but there are also quality secondary options available.
For bullpen help, the Yankees could target Marlins closer Tanner Scott. Joel Reuter from Bleacher Report highlighted Scott’s impressive 2.31 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts in 78 innings last season, along with 12 saves and 24 holds. This year, Scott has a 1.59 ERA and 10 saves in 33 games, though his 23 walks are concerning. He could become the top lefty in the Yankees bullpen and provide manager Aaron Boone with flexibility in using Scott and Clay Holmes as closer and setup man.
In the infield, Angels infielder Luis Rengifo’s versatility could boost the Yankees. Reuter noted Rengifo’s ability to play second base, shortstop, and third base, along with his club control through 2025. He has a .315 batting average, six homers, and 24 RBI, but acquiring him would require significant assets.
With Gleyber Torres and outfielder Alex Verdugo set for free agency, they could be trade candidates. However, Verdugo has been one of the few consistent players besides Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, and Torres’ current performance (.223/.229/.348) limits his trade value. Trading key players midseason could also disrupt team chemistry.
Prospects Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones are considered “untouchables” by The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty. Dominguez, who hit four homers in a week before a UCL injury, is seen as the future left fielder next to Judge and Soto. Despite Jones hitting just .228 at Double-A Somerset, the Yankees believe he has superstar potential and would require a significant offer to trade him.
The question remains: which prospects should the Yankees trade for the immediate help they need this season?
3B Oswald Peraza
Peraza and fellow Yankees infielder Oswaldo Cabrera were both called up in 2022, but only Cabrera has remained in the majors. The 24-year-old Cabrera has slashed just .216/.298/.306 with three homers and 16 RBI in 70 MLB games, but he still offers a reliable glove and has time to develop.
“Peraza battled for the Yankees’ starting shortstop spot in spring training 2023,” said Brendan Kuty. “A shoulder injury kept him out until early May, and though he’s hit just .149 in 13 Triple-A games, the Yankees have moved him around the infield. His defense remains strong, and he has power (.836 OPS in Triple-A in 2023).”
While Peraza’s bat isn’t quite major-league-ready, he has shown potential as a defensive-minded, small-ball player. Though not a star, he could be valuable enough to include in a trade package.
OF Everson Pereira
Pereira has Dominguez’s power-hitting prowess and defensive versatility, but he struggles with consistency at the plate. The Venezuelan native hit just .151 with no homers and 10 RBI in 93 MLB at-bats last season and was hitting .265 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before suffering the same UCL injury that sidelined Dominguez.
“The 23-year-old Pereira’s power remains prodigious, he’s capable of playing all over the outfield, and the Yankees love his makeup,” Kuty explained. “But he’s still striking out a lot (32.4 percent), and the last time the Yankees had a highly talented yet strikeout-prone outfield prospect (Estevan Florial), he became trade fodder. The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked Pereira as the Yankees’ No. 2 overall prospect going into the season.”
While Peraza could potentially be called up to fill in at third base this year if needed, Pereira’s Tommy John surgery rules him out for the season. With the Yankees aiming for a World Series title this year, it makes sense to trade non-essential prospects for immediate help.
RHP Will Warren
Warren was a surprise contender for the fifth starting spot in the Yankees’ rotation this past spring, but the job ultimately went to current Cy Young Award candidate Luis Gil. Since then, Warren has struggled in Triple-A, posting a 6.53 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP across 70.1 innings.
Despite these struggles, the 25-year-old right-hander remains young enough to be a reclamation project for another organization, reflecting why New York drafted him in the eighth round in 2021.
C/1B Agustin Ramirez
Ramirez has had a stronger minor league season than Jones this year, hitting .270 with 17 homers, 54 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and a .884 OPS across Double- and Triple-A. The Dominican native was promoted to Triple-A in June and is on track to be ready for the big leagues within the next couple of years if he maintains his current performance.
“Agustin Ramirez, 22, has put up monster exit velocities and impressive traditional numbers,” Kuty noted. “Though his defense lags behind his bat, he’s started incorporating first base into his game.”
Ramirez would be an ideal addition for any organization that is not yet contending but is steadily progressing. For the Yankees, who are focused on winning now, they don’t have the luxury of waiting for young prospects to develop.