3 Yankees most likely to be traded after Anthony Volpe promotion

Oswald Peraza

What's the recourse here? Peraza, who was supposed to be the Opening Day starter at shortstop, was optioned to Triple-A and will begin the 2023 season there as of now. Does this serve any purpose for the Yankees?

Peraza has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues, and a poor Spring Training only would've adversely affected him in this exact scenario. Classic stuff. With his demotion, though, it's clear the Yankees are prioritizing Torres and Isiah Kiner-Falefa ... but why?

We've heard countless times that Volpe and Peraza will be the middle infield of the future for the Yankees. Torres has been falling out of favor for a while, and IKF has no place on this team, with both LeMahieu and Cabrera being better utility players. Why didn't the Yankees non-tender IKF or trade Torres in order to make this sensible accommodation?

Either way, the fact that they didn't leaves Peraza, the team's No. 3 prospect, a potential trade candidate, especially with the shortstop demand across MLB. We previously wondered if the Dodgers might trade one of their top pitching prospects for Peraza. Could that still be a possibility?

Also, you have to wonder if this affected the relationship between Peraza and the Yankees. You give him a chance, ostensibly with a clear path, then challenge him in Spring Training alongside Volpe, and then send him back to the minors. Nobody's necessarily disagreeing with the decision, but it's important to consider the fallout when these types of calls are made.