Ever since Washington Nationals star Juan Soto became available via trade, the New York Yankees have been rumored to be interested. A group of six or seven teams are reportedly having preliminary conversations with the Nats, and the Yanks are believed to be one of them.
Acquiring Soto, who is hitting .245/.401/.485 with 20 homers and 45 RBI, would certainly boost the Yankees chances to win the World Series for this year and the two after that, which is what he has left of team control.
However, according to MLB insider Mark Feinsand, if the Yankees make a big move before the August 2 deadline, it will likely be for a starting pitcher and not for an offensive player of Soto’s caliber.
“If the Yankees make a big move, it’s going to be for Luis Castillo or Frankie Montas, not (Juan) Soto. I could see Oswald Peraza headlining a deal for Castillo or Montas,” Feinsand wrote.
The Yankees could look to shore up pitching depth
Since losing Luis Severino to a lat strain in recent days, the Yankees have identified starting pitching as a potential position to improve. They have also lost several important bullpen pieces, most recently Michael King to a fractured elbow, so it’s also easy to see them bringing in a reliever or two.
Trading for either Castillo or Montas would require the Yankees to put together a significant package of prospects, but not as stellar as if they would be acquiring Soto.
The Nationals reportedly want a combination of star-level prospects and MLB-ready players with several years of team control left. The Yankees have them, but if they are going to make a major move (per Feinsand, at least), it will likely be for an arm.
Castillo, 29, is 3-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 13 starts this season, while Montas, also 29, is 4-9 but with a 3.18 ERA in 19 starts.