Yanks Go Yard
FanSided

Yankees Editorial: Is It A Good Thing Peter O’Brien Was Traded?

By Jason Evans

facebooktwitterreddit

The Yankees were looking for a super utility player to help out mainly in the outfield, but someone who could play all over. At the trade deadline, the Yankees pulled off a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Martin Prado, who would fill that role, but end the season on the DL due to an appendectomy.

The cost was power hitting catching prospect Peter O’Brien. O’Brien hit 39 homers in the minors last season, which ranked fifth of anyone at any level. The Yankees were loaded at catcher and they had question as to whether or not O’Brien could play there due to his defense.

Well, during Spring Training, O’Brien developed a Mackey Sasser like mental block about throwing the ball back to the pitcher. He just couldn’t do it. O’Brien is now staying in left-field and a first base for at least another month, because his bat has been playing. As of 4/16, he was hitting .321 in his first seven games for AAA Reno. Because of that, they are leaving him alone.

Is it a good thing the Yankees traded him?

O’Brien’s bat plays. The Yankees need offense. Garrett Jones and Nathan Eovaldi were acquired for Prado in the off-season. Jones hasn’t done much so far and Eovaldi has had his issues. Could O’Brien have filled a role similar to Jones except from the right-side instead? Sure could. Plus, if he could catch, it would give Joe Girardi a ton of options off the bench.

Prado did help last season when he played, but what he was flipped for hasn’t been enough. Stephen Drew was kept at second, where Prado could have been if he wasn’t traded. Even if they had O’Brien, Drew could still be on the team.

I understood the deal at the time for the Yankees. They needed a guy like Prado. But right now, they could use a bat like O’Brien’s more.

More from Yanks Go Yard

Home/Yankees News