New York Yankees Prospect Profile: Dean Anna

Lost in the shuffle of yesterday’s huge trade between the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, was the news that the New York Yankees acquired minor leaguer Dean Anna from the San Diego Padres. Despite being relatively unheard of up to this point by Yankees fans, Anna looks as though he can fit in quite nicely.

Did Cashman find another diamond in the rough? (Image: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

At 26 years old, Anna was drafted by the Padres in the 26th round of the 2008 draft. His minor league career got off to a slow start as he spent three years bouncing between low and high-A baseball. However, since that time, Anna has been as hot as can be in the minor leagues. This warranted a promotion to playing Triple-A ball in 2013.

There, Anna flourished. In 132 games for the Padres AAA affiliate, the Tucson Padres, he hit .331 with nine home runs and 73 RBI, while accumulating 165 hits. He was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Game in recognition of his incredible play.

Anna has shown that he can be a very versatile player, spending time at second and third base, as well as shortstop. This versatility can prove to be extremely useful for a Yankee team that will see its regular starters from the left side of the infield get plenty of DH days. The scouting report on Anna tells us that he has a pretty solid glove, so he might come in handy should he find himself on the big league squad in the 2014 season.

Anna was the unfortunate victim of a logjam in the Padres organization, thus stunting any call-up that may have been planned for him. The Padres were pretty much set in the infield with Chase Headley, and Yasmani Grandal, so there was little to no room for Anna to be played. This is likely a big reason that the Padres traded him away for Ben Paullus.

A solid bat, a useful glove, and the possibility of multiple roster holes to fill may work out in Anna’s favor. Do not be surprised if he is one of the Yankees’ utility players straight out of Spring Training. Should that happen, along with the re-signing of defensive wizard Brendan Ryan, one has to wonder if Eduardo Nunez is on his way out.

The offseason has just begun for the New York Yankees, and this may just be a blip on what could be a huge winter-time radar.