Yankees have one last chance to learn their lesson from Jorge Mateo

Hey, Almost Anything Could be True

And it could be true. Only time will tell. But time is already telling the Yankees to trade Cave, while his play is so tantalizing. Teams will hope they are getting this year’s Ben Gamel, another Yankees Triple-A player who did well in the minors but was undervalued by the prognosticators. Gamel would be in contention for Rookie of the Year, if not for Aaron Judge.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Yankees add to championship core with Wilmer Difo signing
• Aaron Judge’s ‘breadcrumbs’ showed he was never leaving Yankees, has more moves in mind
• Creating a Yankees-Bryan Reynolds trade package after latest Pirates update
• Yankees analyst Cameron Maybin projects surprise landing spot for Gary Sánchez
• Yankees swipe intriguing minor-league FA lefty flamethrower from Braves

Most importantly, the trade scenario is perfect. The Oakland Athletics want to trade Sonny Gray for a centerfielder. Mateo has been playing center at Trenton to rave reviews. Cave has been playing mostly left field lately, but no report makes it seem as if he cannot play center. And neither player figures into the Yankees long term plans.

In life and the MLB trade deadline, timing is everything. Brian Cashman and the Yankees missed their chance last year to trade an under performing Mateo at top value.

That window looks like it opened up again. If the Yankees strike now, they can maximize their entire farm system, trading who they don’t want and keeping the best players for themselves.

Next: Take a Look back at Rob Refsnyder's Yankees career

Here’s another tip that might help Brian Cashman: when you sit down to lie about how great Mateo is, don’t look Billy Beane in the eyes; that can be a tell. Instead, watch the space above his nose and between his eyes. It’s an old con man’s trick.

And it’s how I got my wife to believe I would not sleep with her twin sister a second time.