Three Yankees Top Prospects Likely to Be Trade Chips This Summer
The New York Yankees have a strong World Series contender this year, but to ensure their success, they need to shore up their roster. This means adding relievers, starting pitching depth, and left-handed bats. To achieve this, they’ll need to part with some of their notable prospects without compromising their future sustainability, especially since they aim to sign Juan Soto long-term. Here are three prospects likely to be involved in trade talks:
- Everson Pereira:
- Profile: Currently a top-five Yankees prospect, Pereira is an outfielder with impressive stats at Scranton, including 10 home runs and an .858 OPS in his first 162 at-bats this season. Despite a less-than-ideal MLB debut in 2023, he’s been performing well in the minors.
- Reason for Trade: The Yankees have a crowded outfield with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Jasson Dominguez, and Spencer Jones, plus Giancarlo Stanton as DH. Pereira, although talented, doesn’t fit into this lineup and would be more valuable to another team.
- Jared Serna:
- Profile: Serna is a 22-year-old second baseman with 11 home runs and an .839 OPS at Hudson Valley. He’s Rule 5 eligible, meaning the Yankees need to either protect him or risk losing him in the draft.
- Reason for Trade: With a surplus of upper-level second base options (Oswald Peraza, Caleb Durbin, Jorbit Vivas), Serna is likely to be included as a secondary piece in a larger trade to avoid losing him for nothing in the Rule 5 Draft.
- Roderick Arias:
- Profile: Arias is a 19-year-old shortstop at Single-A Tampa with a .205 batting average and .637 OPS. Despite his struggles, he has shown potential and was once a top-100 prospect.
- Reason for Trade: The Yankees have a promising shortstop in Anthony Volpe and a potential logjam at the position. While Arias should only be traded for significant returns, he represents a valuable asset that could sweeten a blockbuster trade deal.
These prospects, while talented, are positioned in ways that make them more expendable for the Yankees as they seek to bolster their roster for a deep playoff run.
