Yankees: 3 Rule 5 prospects NYY must trade at deadline

2. Randy Vasquez

Hey, anybody have their eyes tuned to the Single-A Tampa Tarpons this season? If not, you should pay attention. They’re doubling up the rest of the league, destroying teams with a powerful offense led by Austin Wells, Trevor Hauver and, until recently, breakout top-100 MLB prospect Anthony Volpe, who was promoted to High-A Hudson Valley in recent days.

So, too, was righty starter Randy Vasquez, who might’ve gotten a few more eyeballs on him thanks to his proximity to the high-flying, first-round-led offense.

Odds are, scouts liked what they saw from the 22-year-old, who scuffled in his first High-A start (four earned in 5.2 innings), but largely dominated in the offensive haven of the lower level, striking out 58 in 50 innings while walking 23 for a 1.16 WHIP. Bizarrely, Vasquez allowed 23 runs but just 14 of the earned variety, meaning he often unraveled when the defense failed to do him any favors.

Unlike Junk, this is mostly a projectable selection, but some team bereft of bullpen help will take a chance on the kid if he’s left unprotected, and the Yankees simply have too much else on their plate to even really think about offering him a precious roster spot, seeing as he’s two or three years away from their timeline.

Vasquez simply has to be the third piece for Trevor Story or fifth piece for Max Scherzer in a matter of days.