The Five Yankees Most Likely to Be Traded This Winter

Dellin Betances

While he remains one of the most beloved players in the organization, the Yankees should give serious thought to trading Dellin Betances this winter. He’s worn down in September for the third consecutive year, allowing 13 runs in 8.1 IP this month thus far. The culprit has been a complete lack of control, with eight free passes surrendered during those last eight innings.

More from Yankees News

• Why weren’t Yankees in on Kodai Senga now that we know the price?
• Baseball Reference proves Yankees’ Aaron Judge lives rent free in Boston
• Yankees’ Clay Holmes trade just became even bigger disaster for Pirates
• Mets stealing New York Post’s entire Yankees offseason plan is hilarious
• Yankees add to championship core with Wilmer Difo signing

Relievers have a notoriously short shelf life. It’s always better to get out too early than too late. Betances is no longer a kid at age 28 and has thrown more innings than any other reliever in baseball the last three seasons with 246 IP and counting.

Throw in the fact that runners have begun running at will against the notoriously slow and clumsy Betances, and it’s easy to see his value collapsing very quickly if New York holds onto him.

Also consider what Brian Cashman could ask in return this winter. He’s younger and cheaper than Andrew Miller and comes with an extra year of team control. Miller landed the Yankees two top 100 prospects in Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield, as well as two promising relief arms in Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen.

Next: Three Under-the-Radar Free Agent Upgrades for the Yankees

If the Yankees made him available, Betances would be one of the hottest commodities on the trade market this winter. It’s hard to imagine a team that wouldn’t have at least cursory interest. With Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, and Mark Melancon all free agents, the Yankees could also replace him just with cash.