The New York Yankees are in need of a starting pitcher, and when we think of trade bait we go straight to Clint Frazier. But, Brian Cashman said in a phone interview the other day that teams have called about the availability of Thairo Estrada, and he believes that Estrada has potential to be a starting shortstop somewhere.
Estrada is just 23 years old, and is a very versatile player. Not just a middle infielder, he can shift to the outfield when needed. He is batting .280 in 50 MLB at-bats, and has just one error. He is also a career .280 minor league hitter, but has batted under .200 in AAA over multiple seasons.
With Didi Gregorius being healthy and an even younger middle infielder in Gleyber Torres, it would likely be years before Estrada gets an everyday shot with the Yankees. Plus, the Yankees drafted middle infielders with their early picks this year, putting those guys in position for the majors around 2022.
Estrada could be a starter for a rebuilding team, and that team could build around him and set things up where he could be their shortstop of the future. If he gets traded, his team might not win right away, but it could be an enormous opportunity for the young fella from Venezuela.