New York Yankees Trade 2nd Base Prospect For Talented Outfielder

Jun 22, 2017; Omaha, NE, USA; Louisville Cardinals outfielder Josh Stowers (25) drives in a run in the third inning against the TCU Horned Frogs at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees traded starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds in return for second-base prospect Shed Long and a high draft pick.

The New York Yankees complete a trade within a trade:

Immediately following the conclusion of the deal, Long was traded to the Seattle Mariners for outfielder Josh Stowers. With Gleyber Torres supplanting himself as the team’s future second-baseman, it made Long expendable, as they must have seen a flaw they didn’t like and were looking for a different skill-set.

Stowers currently sits in the Low-A Northwest League, displaying great speed and on-base running. He’s also a solid defender that could offer value in the future if his hitting develops.

Additional info:

The farm-system player was drafted just last year, which is why the Yankees are probably so high on the second-rounder. Adding speedy players with good base running to the roster is a major positive, especially for a team that relies so much on home runs.

In 2018, Stowers batted .260 with 5 homers, 52 hits and 28 RBIs over 200 at-bats. Not a bad showing from the 21-year-old. He has plenty of time to develop his game and climb the ranks with the Yankees’ farm-teams.

Personally, I like this deal a lot, as the Yankees outfield is aging and planning for the future seems to be a solid move. Hopefully, his talents will pay off down the road.