3 players we can’t believe Yankees didn’t trade at 2022 deadline

1. Oswald Peraza

Consider this more of an exhale than a declaration, but how on earth did the Yankees get a Frankie Montas (and more!) deal done without including their second-best shortstop prospect in the package?

For months, it’s felt like either Oswald Peraza would get traded or Oswald Peraza would get promoted to the bigs and send Isiah Kiner-Falefa back into the utility role he’s always been destined for. The team believes in Anthony Volpe. The team believes in Gleyber Torres (unless…?). The team believes in, and extended, DJ LeMahieu. There are only so many infield slots to go around, and only one shortstop can play at a time.

Picking between Peraza and Volpe, then dealing the non-chosen one for a major upgrade that could bring a World Series to the Bronx in 2022, seemed like the logical endpoint of this deadline. And yet … Luis Castillo went elsewhere, Montas came to the Bronx, and Peraza’s still waiting for a ticket on the Scranton Shuttle.

In recent weeks, the 22-year-old has caught fire, raising his Triple-A totals to .256 with a .769 OPS, 14 bombs and 26 stolen bases. “Respectable”? Lately, he’s been special.

There’s still a second-half spot waiting for him in the Boogie Down if the Yankees want to give their roster a jolt in the middle of their recent pennant-race doldrums. It’s unbelievable the team still has that choice to make, though. How did he not end up in Cincinnati or at the Coliseum?

If the Mariners don’t drop Noelvi Marte into their package for Castillo, Peraza’s likely in the Queen City. Ideally, the Yankees take full advantage of their second chance with him.

Grading Yankees’ transformative 2022 MLB trade deadline moves

The New York Yankees pulled off a number of swaps at the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline, so we've graded the moves, from Benintendi to Gallo.