Every team in the league knows that the New York Yankees are looking for a shortstop and would like to upgrade pitching and first base, mainly because they don’t trust Luke Voit to remain healthy for a full season.
The Yankees have been linked with a trade with the Oakland Athletics for all of the offseason. They have the pitchers (Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, and Sean Manaea) and the first baseman (Matt Olson) that interest the Bombers.
However, a trade may not happen at all, because the Yankees don’t want to part with their top prospects. According to Andy Martino of SNY, New York is strongly opposed to the idea of giving away top shortstop prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza. Both made recent top 100 prospects list, with Volpe universally considered a top-15 asset.
Olson, 28 by the time the season starts, will not be cheap: he has two seasons of team control remaining and is fresh off putting a 5.0-fWAR season. He hit .271/.371/.540 with 39 home runs, 111 RBI, and a 146 wRC+, and is considered an excellent defensive first baseman.
The A’s asked for the moon, understandably, but the Yankees didn’t bite
Naturally, he would cost some assets, and the A’s, understandably, would ask for the moon. And that includes Volpe or Peraza plus other pieces, but the Yankees are reluctant.
Martino confirmed that the aforementioned scenario took place before the lockout: the Yankees were unwilling to include their young shortstops in any negotiations.
The A’s are expected to shed payroll, but they have some leverage because the Atlanta Braves also want Olson. If they re-sign Freddie Freeman, though, they may be forced to take a package they don’t want.
If the Yankees sign one of the top-two shortstops available in free agency, Carlos Correa or Trevor Story, they would be much more inclined to trade Gleyber Torres than their two top prospects at the position.