Breakout pitcher Yankees stole from Red Sox makes serious statement vs. Mets prospects

Should the New York Yankees have surrendered valuable catching depth to the Boston Red Sox, handing them starter/near-All-Star/mock captain Carlos Narvaez? Absolutely not. But, as we've said in the past, if you're going to risk all that for a pitching prospect, he'd better be a way better pitching prospect than what you could've gotten from a non-rival. Enter Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, who might be exactly that, and who hit an impressive new level on Tuesday.

Make no mistake: ERC could throw four consecutive no-hitters and the Yankees' 2025 season would still be warmer than hell. The Red Sox are ascendant while "stuck in neutral" would be a massive improvement for these Bombers. The only "bragging rights" the Yankees have are in right field — and even he might be a perma-DH.

But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy Rodriguez-Cruz's leaps forward in what's otherwise spiraling into a lost season.

One of the Yankees' top seven prospects — none of whom moved anywhere at the deadline — Rodriguez-Cruz faced off against Mets Futures Game participant Jonah Tong and a stacked Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies lineup that includes top names like Jett Williams, Carson Benge, and Ryan Clifford from the Justin Verlander trade.

In seven innings (on 93 pitches), he allowed two hits and no runs, walked two, and whiffed eight, outlasting Tong by two frames.

Yankees rising pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz just buzzsawed a top-tier Mets lineup at Double-A

Add in the prospect right behind Rodriguez-Cruz on MLB Pipeline's list (Ben Hess) getting the bump to Double-A, and it's been a remarkably successful day for the Yankees ... farm. The farm, specifically. The big-league team, on the other hand, can eat grass covered in gravy.

This trade between two heated rivals is bound to boomerang for years before a winner and loser can be decided, but let it be noted that while Rodriguez-Cruz has surged, Narvaez has slumped offensively at the MLB level, hitting .217 with a .296 OBP and .371 slugging percentage since June 1 (while, yes, playing excellent defense for a playoff team.

All the while, Rodriguez-Cruz has looked like an impressive find, and Tuesday afternoon's showcase game was likely the biggest challenge he faced thus far. He passed it with flying colors against some of his future enemies.