The New York Yankees have a busy off-season ahead once the lockout ends, as player agents believe general manager Brian Cashman will be active in the market when he is capable.
Given the Yankees were unable to secure any big-name free agents before the lockout, they will need to pick up the slack in the spring. However, they still have plenty of names left to pursue once things return to normal. Expect a ton of competition, though, driving up the price due to demand.
One way the Yankees can improve their team without spending an exorbitant amount of money is via trade. The team was connected to the Oakland Athletics in the early portions of the off-season regarding Matt Olson, their star first baseman.
Oakland is trying to find a new home for Olson, slashing his salary off the books. If the lockout ends with a salary floor set at $100 million, Oakland will have no choice but to pay Olson anyway, so it is entirely possible they retain him given that outcome. If things remain the same in that area, Cashman could look to acquire Olson, who is 27-years-old and has two years of team control left on his contract.
One MLB insider proposed an interesting trade scenario involving the Yankees’ top prospect in their farm system.
Joel Sherman of the NY Post proposed that the Yankees send Jasson Dominguez on his way for Matt Olson and Elvis Andrus, in addition to others:
My proposed trade: (Jasson) Dominguez, Luis Gil and Chad Green for Elvis Andrus and Olson.
In terms of pure value, Oakland might bite on the scenario, considering Dominguez is being compared to players like Lou Gehrig with his potential. The Yankees have failed to develop some of their more prominent names in the recent past, but there’s no chance Cashman gives up Dominguez at such a ripe age.
A five-tool outfielder at 18-years-old with the qualities to become a super-star doesn’t represent a trade piece to just toss around. He spent last season with the Tampa Tarpons, hitting .252 with five homers and 19 RBIs, tallying nine stolen bases.
Landing Olson would be a massive benefit, considering he hit .271 with 39 homers and 111 RBIs this past season. As a lefty batter, he would rake at Yankee Stadium, but the Yankees may not have to give up Dominguez to acquire Olson with other stud prospects at the ready.
The Yankees have two awesome shortstops rising through their system in Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe. Selling high on Peraza now might be ideal given their excitement about Volpe and his transition to the big leagues in the future. They would also have to include a pitcher like Luis Gil.
Acquiring Elvis Andrus would be a stopgap at shortstop, taking on his contract that ends after the 2022 season but does have a vesting option in 2023. Andrus hit .243 this past season but represents a solid defender.
Overall, this isn’t my favorite trade scenario, filling the shortstop spot with a low power contact hitter that is being overpaid and parting ways with one of the best prospects baseball has seen in quite some time.
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