The New York Yankees are going to be active at the trade deadline in a few weeks. With World Series aspirations and a few cautionary situations bubbling before the All-Star break, general manager Brian Cashman has an opportunity to improve his team even further, despite having a luxurious 13-game lead in the AL East.
Recent reports indicated that Cashman could dive into the starting pitching market, notably for Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo or Oakland’s Frankie Montas. If he wants either starter or a top-end position player, he will need to package a competitive group of players.
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Three trade pieces for the Yankees at the deadline:
1.) Joey Gallo
Many view Joey Gallo as a negative asset, but for a team looking to acquire a left-handed slugger, he has plenty of value. Considering he won a Gold Glove award last year and smacked 38 homers, he may find another team a bit easier to play for. The Yankees expect a lot out of their players and the fans are incredibly hostile when they don’t reach expectations.
Back in 2019, Gallo hit .253 with a 39% on-base rate with Texas, so it is difficult to understand how he’s only hitting .167 with a 27.6% on-base rate and nine homers this season with the Yankees. He has the talent to be very productive, but the Bombers might just be a bad fit.
2.) Everson Pereira
If the Yankees want to avoid utilizing one of their top prospects in a prospective trade, they can look to the tier below.
Everson Pereira could be an attractive option for some teams. In High-A, he’s hitting .274 with a 35% on-base rate, including seven homers and 32 RBIs over 279 plate appearances. Pereira is quickly climbing through the minor-league system at 21 years old, meaning a few more years could help them develop into a legitimate MLB player.
MLB Pipeline raves about his power and technique:
Added to New York’s 40-man roster in November, Pereira always has had a quick right-handed stroke and now that he has gotten significantly stronger since turning pro, he’s producing some of the highest exit velocities in the system. He has geared his swing to launch balls in the air and has the hand-eye coordination to make it work, though his approach does lead to strikeouts. He initially looked like a potential plus hitter with average power, but now that profile has reversed.
3.) Oswald Peraza
If Cashman is willing to roll out the big guns for a trade package, he could look to Oswald Peraza as a cornerstone piece. Peraza has been unbelievable in the month of June, recording five hits in his last two games, including two homers. In fact, Peraza is currently on a 10-game hitting streak.
With Isiah Kiner-Falefa struggling at shortstop, there’s an argument to be made Peraza should be given an opportunity at the big league level this season. Given his substantial value, though, he could be flipped for a stud pitcher or even an outfielder like Ian Happ. He would have to be part of a bigger deal, but his presence certainly gets the ball rolling.