Yankees: 5 possible trade candidates with hot stove nearing

Trades are on the horizon for the New York Yankees. You know it. Everyone knows it. We just don’t know who’s going to be moved.

The latest rumors suggest the Bombers are interested in swinging a deal for Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson, which means we’re likely to see at least two players on the 40-man roster depart. Again, don’t know who, but it’ll probably be two of those guys plus prospects.

But we’re here to talk about guys on the MLB roster who may depart and change the complexion of the 2022 team in a significant way. We’re obviously not sure if any of these players will be traded, but we have a hunch there’s a possibility, and we ranked them from least likely to most likely.

General manager Brian Cashman has already hinted at changes. The Yankees are reportedly talking to the agents of Anthony Rizzo, Corey Seager and Carlos Correa. Justin Verlander’s name has popped up in rumors. Expect a new and improved squad in 2022.

And it may or may not be at the expense of these five players.

Five likeliest Yankees trade candidates on the active roster.

5. Gleyber Torres

Now that he’s back at second base he’s way less likely to be traded … but never say never. Torres’ last two years in the Bronx have been beyond uninspiring and mostly characterized by drama and disappointment.

Throw in the fact the Yankees clearly mishandled him by moving him to shortstop and keeping him there for about 75 games longer than they should have, and you truly cannot say this is the best relationship between team and player.

Torres is under team control through 2024, but he won’t be cheap. He’s projected to make $6 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility after earning Super Two status last year. That’ll be closer to $10 million next year and then $13 million the follow year, depending on his performance of course.

With DJ LeMahieu on this roster for the next five years as well as a number of promising middle infield prospects, we just wouldn’t be surprised if Torres was moved this offseason if the Yankees saw an opportunity to upgrade elsewhere, especially if they feel they can replace his production or believe it’s more important to keep LeMahieu at home at second base.

4. Aaron Hicks

Hicks being dealt is probably just as unlikely as Torres, but for a totally different reason. The Yankees would have to eat a significant portion of his contract for a team to even dream of expressing interest.

The switch-hitter has been unable to stay on the field ever since signing his seven-year extension prior to 2019 and he’ll make an average of $10 million per season through 2025. Let’s be nice here and project the Yankees would have to pay for half of that to get him out of the Bronx.

Then again, keeping Hicks as a fourth outfielder and part-time DH could help the team cope with his regrettable contract. They cannot go into 2022 with him as the starting center fielder after what’s happened the past three years. But then that means Brett Gardner likely isn’t returning, assuming Cashman finds a new center fielder? Don’t need five veteran outfielders. Really don’t.

But in the event of talking trades, perhaps Hicks gets sent to Oakland as part of a larger deal for Olson. The A’s do need outfield help and they value switch-hitting/OBP bats. The Yankees paying for half of his contract makes him a $5 million per year outfielder, which really isn’t bad, especially if he can stay on the field for ~100 games.

It’ll take some work to get this done, but it’s not impossible.

3. Gary Sánchez

Perhaps non-tendering Sánchez is the easier option since it won’t be easy finding a trade partner willing to take on his projected $8 million salary for 2022, but the Yankees aren’t going to cut bait with him now if they didn’t after 2019 or 2020. This is his last year under team control. Do or die.

But you can’t say a handful of teams out there wouldn’t be willing to take a chance on the slugging catcher to gain that “unique” advantage on the offensive end. Very few backstops hit for power like Sánchez does when he’s swinging the bat well … but that’s the problem. He’s not consistent and his defense isn’t very good.

We’re also not sure what other catchers in free agency or the trade market would interest the Yanks as an upgrade over Sánchez. Maybe they just want superior defense and go after a guy like Martin Maldonado, sign him for $3 million and then save $5 million total by unloading El Gary.

We’d be lying if we told you almost all of these potential trade candidates didn’t have baggage attached to them. Sánchez’s case is complicated given his price tag, questionable glove, declining arm, and erratic offense. But we’d also be lying if we said nobody would be intrigued by taking him on their team for 2022 if the Yankees were looking to strike a deal.

1. Luke Voit

Luke Voit has value. Don’t tell anybody he doesn’t. Injuries have held him back, like they do with a lot of players, and Voit was somehow punished for it in 2021. Of all the players the Yankees are going to draw the line with, why Voit? He’s got a 137 OPS+ since coming to the Bronx in 2018.

His glove isn’t great, but it’s totally fine. He’s not out there losing games with his defense by any means … but he’s also far from a Gold Glover. Then again, he was the home run champ in 2020 and brings much-needed energy and passion to the field. For just $5.4 million in 2022 and two more years of club control after that, teams would be crazy not to see the value there.

If healthy, Voit is a potential 35-40 homer bat and his career .267 average is nothing to sneeze at. We’d sure like to keep him, but the Yankees trading for Rizzo, demoting Voit, and then refusing to use him as the DH when Giancarlo Stanton played the outfield no doubt soured this relationship. His name was also mentioned in trade talks at the deadline.

Expect Voit to be moved in a package including Olson or part of a different deal for a starter or reliever. The Yankees’ pitching staff needs help and if they’re going to be addressing first base in another capacity, they have a clear valuable trade chip in Voit whose presence makes little sense if Rizzo returns or Olson comes to town.

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