by James Vlietstra
July 22, 2023
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The MLB trade deadline is set for August 1st. The Yankees are 2-8 in their last 10 games and have currently dropped out of a playoff spot. The real question that is going to be asked is do they become buyers or sellers over the next two weeks. It’s possible to be sellers without raising the white flag. After the 2016 trade deadline, the youth movement provided a spark that carried right through the end of the year and all of 2017.
Simultaneously, the draft was just completed. As of now, the Yankees have signed 17 out of their 18 draft picks. Additionally, they have signed six undrafted free agents. Also, since the All-Star break, they’ve activated several injured minor leaguers. That’s 25-30 players that have been added. Eventually, they need to subtract about the same amount.
Once again, the Yankees have roughly 130 players eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter. Obviously most of them are not going to be selected, but they have several that potentially would be desirable to other teams.
I am going to go through some of their current players and several of their minor leaguers, using www.baseballtradevalues.com as the source for what they see as the potential value of a player. Seems like they change their mind on value almost daily so take it for what it’s worth.
On the other side of it, Ohtani has a 44.3 value as a 3 month rental. Acuna currently has a 245.2 value. Soto is a 50.1 and his teammate Tatis is a 151.1. Feel free to look up some of your favorite trade targets.
Here are some of the Yankees players with significant value :
Harrison Bader 6.3 I can see them trading him before he becomes a free agent.
Jake Bauers 3.8 Quite honestly if he’s not in their future plans, get what you can.
Orlando Cabrera 5 I think he’s better than he has shown this year and is versatile
Gerrit Cole 8.4 Don’t think they will trade their ace
Nestor Cortes 28.1 Would be one of their best assets to get anything substantial back
Josh Donaldson -11.3 Injury takes him out of trade talks but opens roster spot.
Scott Effross 11.7 Injured but still under team control for 4-5 years.
Domingo German 6.4 Do you embrace history or trade it away?
Ian Hamilton 10 Has 5 Years of team control
Clay Holmes 8.4 He’s an all star closer under control for this year and next.
Aaron Judge -29.4 No way the Captain is traded
Michael King 17.4 Valuable bullpen asset.
DJ LeMahieu -20.2 Think he has a NTC. Next year this time he’ll be hearing boos.
Anthony Rizzo -10.9 His leadership is worth more than paying someone to take him
Carlos Rodon -8.3 Once healthy he should be useful long term.
Clarke Schmidt 18.3 Starting pitcher with 4 additional years of control.
Giancarlo Stanton -98.9 No trade clause and owed in excess of $100M pretty much means he stays
Jose Trevino 4.5 I say trade him and get what you can for him. Lots of catching in the system.
Luis Severino -1.7 In his free agent season, would be salary dump.
Isiah Kiner Falefa -0.1 Same as Severino
Ben Rortvedt 0 Four more years of team control.
Now onto the rookies and minor leaguers:
1. Anthony Volpe 69.1 ROY candidate. Possible centerpiece of organization (if you believe everything you hear).
2. Jasson Dominguez 19.1 Has heated up in July. Wouldn’t be shocked if he gets a late season call up. They invested a lot in a 16 year old IFA and he will be on the 40-man roster come spring training with a legit shot at making team and ROY as top 20 prospect.
3. Oswald Peraza 29 With Donaldson hurt, should play every day at third.
4. Austin Wells 13.5 If he’s a Catcher, replace Higashioka and play him every day or trade him before having to put him on the 40. If he’s not, spend August teaching him left and bring him up.
5. Spencer Jones 12.2 Last year’s first round pick. Will be in AA next year with higher value.
6. Everson Pereira 17.4 Already on 40, should be in the Majors. He’s destroying minor league pitching.
7. Roderick Arias 7.8 Destroying FCL as 18 year old. Will be top 100 in winter. More valuable later.
8. Brock Selvidge 0.5 20 years old and in Hi-A. More valuable to keep.
9. Trey Sweeney 4.2 First round pick advancing. Seems low.
10. Richard Fitts 2.2 Solid year in AA. Not rule 5 eligible yet.
11. Will Warren 5.6 Was promoted to AAA. Not rule 5.
12. Keiner Delgado (Not listed) raking in FCL
13. Luis Gil 1.6 Inching closer to returning from TJS. Has 5 more years of control.
14. Drew Thorpe 5.6 Last year second round pick. Needs promotion to AA. Way undervalued
15. Brando Mayea 4.2 This year’s top IFA. Not going anywhere.
16. Randy Vasquez 5.5 Six more years of team control. Candidate to replace Cortes in rotation.
17. Brendan Beck 0.8 Second rounder 2 years ago. Recovering from TJS. Much more valuable.
18. Sean Hermann 0 Just turned 20, pitching for Tampa.
19. Yoendrys Gomez 2.7 Last year with Options. He needs to get promoted so they see what they have.
20. Luis Serna 3.4 Could Be an add on player in a trade.
21. Deivi Garcia 0 Using up a roster spot, out of options. Time for change of scenery.
22. Tyler Hardman 2.1 Currently probably not a sought after commodity.
23. Ron Marinaccio 3.2 Has 5 years of control remaining. Seems undervalued.
24. Agustin Ramirez 1.2 21 year old catcher ripping up Hi-A and rule 5 eligible. Trade, Protect or lose.
25. Clayton Beeter 2 Rule 5 eligible. Will get MLB starts this year. Maybe not for the Yankees.
26. Justin Lange 2 Rule 5 eligible. Control issues but only 21.
27. Enmanuel Tejeda 2.5 Teenage shortstop ripping up FCL. Will be skyrocketing up lists.
28. Andres Chaparro 0.2 Rule 5 eligible. Has been on fire lately.
29. Matt Sauer 0.5 Possibly MiLB free agent after season.
30. Estevan Florial 0 Can’t understand why he’s not the number 4 outfielder and caddy for Stanton with speed and defense. Zero value even destroying AAA pitching. Will no longer be a Yankees after World Series.
31. Elijah Dunham 2.2 Rule 5 eligible that was just demoted. Definitely a trade candidate.
32. Trystan Vrieling 2.2 Last year’s third round pick, injured.
33. Jesus Rodriguez (not listed) Unlikely to be moved.
34. Antonio Gomez 1.7 Rule 5 eligible. Has dropped to about 8th in depth chart. Can see trading him.
35. Hans Montero 0.3 Probably a top 12-15 prospect in a very deep system.
36. Carson Coleman 1.1 Injured. Rule 5 eligible.
37. Matt Krook 0.5 Has contributed in the majors. Could clear a roster spot.
38. Fidel Montero 0.5 Full season injury.
39. Jared Serna 1.2 Has a MiLB OPS approaching.850. Is rule 5 eligible.
40. Anthony Hall 2.4 Was doing great before getting injured.
41. Jhony Brito. 2.5 Six more years of control. Has been a pleasant surprise in the majors.
42. Josh Breaux 0.4 Was passed over in last year’s rule 5. Stock is dropping.
43. Indigo Diaz 0.2 Basically a non prospect.
44. Montana Semmel (not listed) Was recently promoted.
45. Tyrone Yulie 0.3 Rule 5 eligible. Having decent yea
46. Alexander Vargas 0.4 Rule 5 eligible.
47. Anthony Seigler 0.4 Rule 5 eligible. First round bust.
48. Juan Carela 0.9 Rule 5 eligible. Having a good year.
49. Sean Boyle 0.5 Rule 5 eligible. Could be emergency starter at any point.
50. Jerson Alejandro (not listed) Just signed in January.
51. Mitch Spence 0.3 Rule 5 eligible. Another that can pitch in majors for another team immediately.
52. Willy Montero ( not listed) Not much current value
53. Edgar Barclay 0.2 Rule 5 eligible. Could pitch in bullpen immediately. Will definitely get selected if left exposed.
54. Oriel Rodriguez 0.3 Rule 5 eligible. Throwing up crazy numbers this year.
55. Anthony Garcia 0.4 Rule 5 eligible. Don’t see him in the organization much longer.
56. Felix Negueis (not listed) Rule 5 eligible. Release candidate.
57. Omar Gonzalez 2.2 Should be around awhile. 17 in DSL.
58. Greg Weissert 1.2 Five years of control left.
59. Abrahan Ramirez (not listed) Not on a lot of radars.
60. Ben Cowles (not listed) Likely won’t be included.
61. Brandon Lockridge 0.4 Rule 5 eligible. Having tremendous year. Trade, protect, or lose.
62. Henry LaLane (not listed) Lots of chatter about him.
63. Jack Neely (not listed). Having a great year.
64. Jordarlin Mendoza (not listed) Unlikely to be included.
65. Eric Reyzelman (not listed) Just returned from injury.
66. TJ Rumfield 0.3 Solid player.
67. Nick Ernst Has been released.
68. Engelth Urena 2.5 Been injured all year.
69. Angel Benitez 2 Also injured all year.
70. Jesus Bastidas (not listed) Rule 5 eligible.
71. Carlos LaGrange 0.2 Putting up great numbers.
72. Christopher Familia (not listed). Rule 5. Putting up great numbers. Won’t be protected.
73. Zach Messinger (not listed) Unlikely to be moved
74. Chase Hampton 15.6 Has moved himself into a top 7-8 prospect.
75. Ryder Green Has been released
Aaron Palensky (not listed). Rule 5 eligible having career year. Trade likely.
Gabriel Terrero (not listed) Not going anywhere.
Anthony Peña (not listed) Not going anywhere
Ryan Anderson 0 Rule 5 eligible. Definitely will be selected if left exposed.
Danny Watson (not listed) Bullpen arm that could step right in now.
