Marte? Kwan? Ryan? (Others?)

by Ethan Semendinger

December 3, 2025

***

Yesterday, I suggested a few key moves for the Yankees to make at the Winter Meetings. I thought about it more. Here's what to do:

---

Disclaimer: All trade values come from BaseballTradeValues.com, and are being used as a very simple representation of value.

---

Trade No. 1: Marte for Volpe? (and Who Else?)

The first trade idea that I suggested yesterday was for the Yankees to go and acquire Ketel Marte. He's one of the game's best overall hitters at second base, being a high-average (for today's game) hitter with 25+ home run power. He's also not a defensive butcher at second base, and his contract is extremely reasonable for the next few seasons (2026: $15M, 2027: $12M). Arguably, one could say "the Yankees already have Jazz Chisholm," which is fair. However, Chisholm could either be moved in the deal, or moved to center field. (I don't believe in Grisham being good in 2026 at all.)

As it currently stands, Marte is "worth" +60.7 BTV's.

I also don't believe in Anthony Volpe anymore. I think the bright lights of New York have shined too bright on him, and he's tried to become more of a celebrity than the future shortstop of this team. It's time to dim the lights on him and have Volpe sent elsewhere. Problem is, Volpe does not have great trade value, at just +16.2 BTV's.

That's a lot of room the Yankees are going to need to make up.

Jazz Chisholm would help, considerably, adding +24.3 BTV's. Together, Volpe and Chisholm are "worth" +40.5 BTV's. Still, a bit short.

But, there's a way to make this happen.

The Yankees will need to replace Anthony Volpe, and I don't believe in trying another prospect from the current farm system. They need proven MLB talent. So, instead, the Yankees make this a bigger trade by contacting another team in the Southwest: the Texas Rangers.

Corey Seager is "worth" -24.5 BTV's. Negative! But, that's okay. A "BTV" just means the player will be worth that many "net millions" of dollars over their contract. It means Seager is overpaid. So, the Yankees ask the Rangers to throw in (a.k.a. eat) $24.5 Million, and they take Seager off of their books.

Now, the Yankees have Seager. Now, the Yankees can trade George Lombard, who is "worth" +36.9 BTV's.

Between Volpe and Lombard, they are "worth" +53.1 BTV's. With Chisholm, the trio is "worth" +77.4 BTV's.

Have Arizona make up the difference and eat $17 Million on Ketel Marte's remaining contract, and drop the yearly value by $3M.

These two simple moves just fixed the Yankees infield. Corey Seager at shortstop, and Ketel Marte at second base for a combined $36 Million (in 2026).

The Trade:

The Diamondbacks get: Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisolm Jr., George Lombard Jr.

The Rangers get: Out of Corey Seager's contract

The Yankees get: Corey Seager & Ketel Marte (on slightly reduced contracts)

(Side-Note: This trade is tough for me, because I do really like Chisholm. However, you have to give to get. Sorry, Jazz.)

---

Trade No. 2: Kwan for Dominguez (Easier Than You'd Think!)

The Yankees need to avoid making ridiculous deals with their money. That means they should NOT sign Cody Bellinger to a long-term deal. That also means they should avoid signing Kyle Tucker to a deal that will end up being over $40 Million per year. Neither are good investments.

Trading for Steven Kwan is a good investment, however. He is a fantastic defender and a fantastic hitter, who also knows how to hit for contact with some (about 10 HR per year) power. He is also decently speedy and is right at the time where he could be had. He's also a left fielder.

Meanwhile, the Yankees back-up option (if/when they don't sign Bellinger or Tucker) is Jasson Dominguez, who is not a left fielder. He is a center fielder, and the Yankees messed up by giving that position away to an overpaid one-hit-wonder. Jasson Dominguez will never reach his full potential if he's not going to play in his natural position. It's time to let go and realize that if the Yankees don't cut bait, Dominguez will end up with the likes of Clint Frazier as wasted potential.

Luckily, Jasson Dominguez is "worth" +21.3 BTV's, while Steven Kwan is "worth" +24.8 BTV's. That's an extremely close gap. All the Yankees "would have to do" is add a decent prospect. Maybe even someone like, Thatcher Hurd (+5 BTV's).

I've never heard of Thatcher Hurd.

Neither have you.

So, the Yankees now fixed their outfield problem.

The Trade:

The Guardians get: Jasson Dominguez & Thatcher Hurd

The Yankees get: Steven Kwan

---

Trade No. 3: I May Have Misunderstood Ryan...(a.k.a. Let's Shift our Focus to Someone Else)

My brother's name is Ryan. To keep it simple, when I see a player with the name "Ryan", I can't help but think of my brother and want that player to do well. (I do the same with players named "Alex" because of my other brother. When we were kids, we collected cards of players named "Ryan" and "Alex" for them. Unfortunately, were also not many [read: any] "Ethan" players around to collect...crazy how I became the one obsessed with baseball.)

Long-story short, I saw there was a guy named "Ryan" who was a pitcher and was rumored to be available from a team with no future (the Twins). What I did not realize is that Joe Ryan is worth +52.7 BTV's.

I suggested Luis Gil and some prospects for him...Luis Gil is worth +6 BTV's. That's a LOT of catching up to do...

If the Yankees wanted to make this happen with pitching, that trade would need to be Gil (+6 BTV's), Will Warren (+27.9 BTV's), Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (+11.6 BTV's), and Bryce Cunnningham (+8.3 MTV's). Together, those four are "worth" +53.8 BTV's.

That's...well, that's a lot to give up.

Unless, the Yankees went all-in on giving up on the farm system and looked at Spencer Jones (+18.2 BTV's) and Dax Kilby (+22 BTV's) instead. With those two added, the Yankees could keep Gil, Warren, and Cunningham out of the trade. That would give them tremendous MLB depth in the rotation.

Together, Jones, Kilby, and ERC are "worth" +51.8 BTV's.

But, is it worth it to go this crazy after Joe Ryan? Probably not. But, there is a pitcher who this craziness is 100% worth it for.

Tarik Skubal is "worth" +60.6 BTV's.

To make it up to that value, all it would take is Warren (+27.9 BTV's), Kilby (+22 BTV's), and ERC (+11.6 BTV's).

Now, imagine that rotation.

Skubal, Fried, Rodon, Cole, and Schlittler with depth in Gil, Schmidt, and Yarbrough.

Ryan was a ruse. Skubal is the real target.

The Trade:

The Tigers get: Some combination (3 or 4) of Dax Kilby, Spencer Jones, Will Warren, ERC, Luis GIl, Bryce Cunningham, Carlos Lagrange, and Dillon Lewis.

The Yankees get: Tarik Skubal

(End-Note: In case you were wondering- I was- Paul Skenes is worth +128.1 BTV's!)

---

Summary:

The Yankees, in 4 moves, could bring in a new shortstop, second baseman, left fielder, and ace of the pitching staff.

Corey Seager, Ketel Marte, Steven Kwan, and Tarik Skubal

I don't care who the Yankees give up to make it happen. Overload the trades. Make them impossible to bypass.

The only untouchable player on this team is Aaron Judge.

Build a team around him to win.

Time is ticking.