The New York Yankees have a lot of work to do when MLB and the Players’ Association agree on a new CBA deal and the lockout is finally lifted. Negotiations aren’t expected to pick up until January, so a resolution won’t come in 2021.
The need to upgrade (or find replacements) several positions on their roster, including shortstop, first base, center field, and starting pitching. They failed to address most of these needs before the lockout and now are expected to be active when it ends.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post (link to the NJ Advance Media article here) offered some hypothetical trade proposals to keep fans engaged.
One of them involves acquiring first baseman Matt Olson and shortstop Elvis Andrus from the Oakland Athletics, while another one has the Yankees getting second baseman/outfielder Ketel Marte from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Center fielder Trent Grisham, catcher Austin Nola, and utilityman Jurickson Profar would wear pinstripes in the third proposal.
Here is each trade, detailed:
Oakland Athletics: Jasson Dominguez, Luis Gil and Chad Green for Elvis Andrus and Olson.
The Yankees’ prized prospect Jasson Dominguez is said to be untradeable, but it could be the only way to get Olson. Gil and Green are further incentive for Oakland to let its star first baseman go.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Gil and Oswald Peraza for Ketel Marte.
Oswald Peraza, the second-best shortstop prospect in the Yankees’ system after Anthony Volpe, would change teams here. Marte has a lot of value, because he is good, versatile, and controllable for the next three years on the cheap.
San Diego Padres: Joey Gallo, Gil, Green, Gleyber Torres and Luke Voit for Trent Grisham, Austin Nola and Jurickson Profar.
It seems like a lot to give up for a Grisham-centered package, but factoring in his elite defense at a premium position (center field) it could make sense. It seems unlikely to happen, though, because Torres’ value isn’t terribly high right now.