4 Yankees players who won't survive the trade deadline

Will Warren

The 2023 Yankees have been diagnosed with a hybrid deadline, based on the contents of this column so far. If they sell, they'll sell rentals and players who've played their way out of favor. If they buy, they'll be using mid-tier prospects to do so. People who've distinguished themselves, but who've also been lapped by other stars of the system.

Enter Will Warren, perhaps the system's top pitching prospect entering the season, but someone who hasn't been mentioned much since being elevated to Triple-A earlier in the year. He's been fine! He's been fine. He's been the exact level of "solid" that doesn't spark much discussion.

Warren remains MLB Pipeline's No. 7 prospect, one slot behind breakout changeup artist Drew Thorpe, who could really use a "challenge" promotion soon. He's also one slot ahead of righty Richard Fitts, who's gaining momentum at Double-A Somerset, as well as two spots ahead of Yoendrys Gomez, who's returned strong from injury.

Warren's supposed ETA is 2023, but both Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez have proven enough in spot starts to continue receiving them. He's a sweeper specialist, and he's been perfectly alright since getting the bump to Triple-A (4.37 ERA, 38 Ks in 35 innings, 1.37 WHIP). That WHIP's been a problem at both levels (1.30 at Double-A, 1.34 overall). Warren is probably a back-end starter in the bigs, but the Yankees have plenty of those, with Luis Gil also returning. Unless something falls into the Yankees' lap, Warren should probably be the highest-profile prospect they dangle this summer -- but he should be available.