Yankees: 3 hybrid sell-off trades NYY should pursue at deadline

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No, the New York Yankees should not “blow their roster up” at the 2021 trade deadline, unless you’re using that phrase incorrectly.

They should attempt to reload while selling off pieces that are no longer as valuable in the Bronx as they would be elsewhere, but there’s nothing glamorous about losing 100-110 games for a year or two (or three, or four…) just to game the draft system.

Also, when this is attempted, there’s usually no easy way out. The wrong executive can bungle the operation.

And didn’t you tell us Brian Cashman is the wrong man for the job anyway? Yet you’d entrust him with this. Very interesting.

So, no, the Yankees shouldn’t implode the roster. They shouldn’t sell high on Gary Sanchez. Is there any contender looking to toss a below-average defender behind the plate out of left field in mid-July anyway? What is that?

They also will not be able to trade Giancarlo Stanton. It’s fine to type out that sentence if you’d really like to, but it’s not a move worth pursuing. Something tells me the San Francisco Giants, about to pass the halfway mark on one of the most incredible chemistry-based, out-of-nowhere runs we’ve ever seen don’t really want to press “Go” on acquiring a DH right now.

Plus, they’re saving an outfield spot to sign Aaron Judge next offseason anyway. Kidding! We kid because we love.

This Yankees team is not objectively bad enough to torch it all (they’re .500-ish and streaky, and their talents are being minimized) but they could benefit from a few well-reasoned sell-offs with win-now adds and win-later flyers. Perhaps these three moves could work?

The Yankees should consider these 3 hybrid trades at the MLB Trade Deadline.

Clint Frazier #77 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. Clint Frazier to the Reds

What do the Reds think they are? Are they a struggling semi-contender like the Yankees, or are they an offensive team punching above their weight in a division dominated by more well-constructed rosters?

Regardless, the fact of the matter is this Cincinnati team has four viable big-league outfielders (at least) now that Aristides Aquino is back, and the Yankees (currently) only roster one. Aaron Judge is a star! Miguel Andújar is a third baseman.

So, we must ask: what future do the Reds see for 30-year-old center field option Tyler Naquin, who hits with power from the left side of the plate and can provide far more on offense than Brett Gardner? Is he a centerpiece of the next great Cincinnati team? Does he belong in the same picture as Nicholas Castellanos and Jesse Winker?

Of course, the 26-year-old Frazier and his one remaining enticing minor-league option don’t scream “superstar” right now, either, and this would not be a one-for-one swap. This would be the Reds selling high as well as betting on pedigree. Naquin, under contract through 2022, has likely hit his ceiling, but fills a center field gap and balance issue with the Yanks; Frazier, of course, does neither of those things at the moment, but was a Gold Glove finalist and young power hitter as recently as … 2020. Remember that year? Pandemic happened, was recent.

In order to get this done, the Yankees would presumably have to throw in a 40-man top prospect (Yoendrys Gomez?) and ask for a semi-lottery ticket back (17-year-old Reds OF Ariel Almonte, ranked 24th by MLB Pipeline and in rookie ball?). We could see it, though, and it would remove the Yankees’ biggest question mark and replace him with a B+ sure thing.

Zack Britton #53 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2. Zack Britton (and Darren O’Day?) to the Phillies/Blue Jays

If the Yankees can trade Adam Ottavino to the Red Sox, why can’t they salary dump their other relievers to Toronto? Except replace “salary dump” with “intelligent baseball decision” and require adequate compensation.

As for the Phillies … what say you, Dave Dombrowski? You want to bank on talent to solve your biggest issue, or do you want to languish around .500, something you’ve never willingly done before?

When Zack Britton opted into his contract for 2021, Yankee fans cheered — after all, what contender wants to lose their eighth-inning guy? Of course, as often seems to be the case in this beautiful city, every single thing that could’ve gone wrong from there did. The Yanks don’t act like a contender, Britton got injured in the middle of spring training (then came back and tweaked his hamstring, but should be fine), and we’re now looking for hybrid trades we can execute within the division.

Far less fun than when Britton tweeted the Statue of Liberty emoji as we geared up for another season.

At this point, Brian Cashman’s goal should be to get Britton’s remaining half of his $13 million salary (as well as his team option for 2022) off the books, especially considering Jonathan Loaisiga has become a setup man (in all caps) and relievers supposedly grow on trees. If this team is suddenly going to care about the luxury tax, there’s no need to pay them anymore.

If we hit July 31 and this is still a .500 team, let’s be honest and say there’s no reason to pay O’Day either, and he can take his 9.0 innings on the season to a team in need of bullpen help in exchange for a 15th-to-20th-ranked prospect.

Can the Yankees get a top-15 prospect for Britton? Probably, right? The versatile Kendall Simmons (14th) from Philly, who can play second, third and short? Blue Jays 2020 second-round pitcher CJ Van Eyk (10th), a polished college arm? The Phils are probably a more likely destination, and New York at least needs to try.

Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

1. Gleyber Torres to the White Sox

Wait a second! The White Sox need a second baseman and are willing to overpay for Eduardo Escobar? Cut that line! We have a 40-homer dude who needs a position switch, a change of scenery and a refreshing of his approach!

Gleyber Torres may or may not be a shortstop. He may or may not be worth his full weight in trade. But if the Yankees miss the postseason entirely after entrusting him with a brand-new position, he definitely won’t be long for this roster, as the braintrust looks to put a new long-term piece in his place.

Wouldn’t you … feel better right now with Corey Seager, Trevor Story or Carlos Correa with Oswald Peraza waiting in the wings? Sadly, the answer is clear.

Now, Torres has traditionally pressed far less when situated at second instead of having the keys to the shortstop legacy handed to him. The Yankees will be asking for a haul for their 24-year-old with disappearing power to fill in for Nick Madrigal, but then again, the D-Backs are asking for a massive package for Escobar. Everyone is going to try to force everyone to overpay. Wouldn’t Torres be a better get?

How about this insanity? The White Sox prospect cupboard is mostly bare, and the Yankees are going very few places in ’21 anyway, so … Torres for the scrappy Madrigal (who’s out until 2022), No. 5 prospect righty Andrew Dalquist, No. 8 prospect Blake Rutherford (a former Yankee and center fielder!), and a back-of-the-top-30 lottery ticket? It’s strange. We understand. But whether this is the solution or not (almost definitely not), Torres’ future must be addressed firmly before the end of the year.

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 14: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 14, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

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The Yankees should consider these 3 hybrid trades at the MLB Trade Deadline.

3. Clint Frazier to the Reds

2. Zack Britton (and Darren O’Day?) to the Phillies/Blue Jays

1. Gleyber Torres to the White Sox

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