The New York Yankees have many avenues to explore this offseason, with the most intriguing coming in the trade market. With a lot of movable young talent, the Yankees could strike a big trade when the iron’s hot. Brian Cashman has already explored potential trades, and a move could be on the horizon soon.
Who Fits The Yankees The Best?
Some of the top names available will be in the pitching market, which is something the Yankees need to add this offseason. Freddy Peralta and Joe Ryan are two top names available and are cost-effective. The Minnesota Twins are expected to ship off their remaining top players, with Joe Ryan being one of the hottest names on the market. He’s under contract for two more seasons and would immediately be one of the top pitchers in New York’s rotation.
Freddy Peralta is another name the Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly made available. Peralta was fantastic last season for the Brewers, posting a 2.70 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. This was one of his best seasons in Milwaukee, and he will be a hot commodity, and his price won’t be extremely steep. With only one year of control remaining, the Yankees won’t have to deal a ton of young players, as they did with Devin Williams last year.
The name that throws a wrinkle in all of this is Japanese Ace Tatsuya Imai. The Yankees are expected to heavily pursue Imai, which would lessen their chances of acquiring another frontline starter this offseason. If they land the Ace, they’ll turn their attention to the lineup and thin bullpen.
Other Names On The Market
One name that the Yankees have been linked to a handful of times is Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan. He would fit perfectly into the Yankees’ lineup and solve the ongoing issue at leadoff. The biggest question pertaining to Donovan is where he fits in defensively. He can play in the outfield and at second and third base, but those positions are already filled.
To make room for Donovan, Brian Cashman would need to trade Ryan McMahon or Jazz Chisholm Jr. Moving McMahon seems logical, as Donovan would upgrade the bat at third base. Since the Cardinals want young pitching, New York could be an ideal trade partner, offering names like Will Warren, Luis Gil, and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz.
Once the Yankees sign a left fielder, such as Cody Bellinger or Kyle Tucker, other moves could follow quickly. They could then trade Jasson Dominguez and/or Spencer Jones and bolster their pitching staff, addressing two needs at once.
