6 Yankees who could be traded after 2023 season demands changes

Players who will be gone? Check. And there's still another layer to peel off the top if you want to discuss guys like Albert Abreu, Billy McKinney, Jake Bauers, Jonathan Loaisiga and a few others. For this exercise, though, we're talking about guys who could be traded. You know, those that actually have a shred of value remaining.

The New York Yankees can easily shuck 10 players off this roster without even thinking. Beyond that, there's still ample work to be done, because no only will they have to replace those 10 players with more effective fill-ins, but there are more positions to upgrade.

This team ranked 29th out of 30 teams in batting average. The starting rotation was decimated with injuries and poor performance. The bullpen is losing a number of players and will welcome back a few on the mend from injury. The position player group needs to drastically improve offensively and defensively for the Yankees to become playoff contenders once again.

There's an interminable amount of work that needs to be done that will require ruthless efficiency. Do Cashman and the Yankees have it in them? Because a good amount of it will have to come on the trade front.

6 Yankees who could be traded after disappointing 2023 season

Kyle Higashioka

Yup, we know we mentioned Higashioka as a non-tender candidate, too, but the need for both starting and backup catchers across the league is always noteworthy. With Austin Wells bursting onto the scene and proving his mettle defensively -- which was believed to be a question mark! -- it seems as if it'll be Wells and Jose Trevino as the 2024 tandem.

Higgy is in line for a ~$2 million salary in 2024, his final year of arbitration eligibility. What's the sense in non-tendering that with so many teams probably looking for a cheap backup option that plays great defense and sports considerable pop from the right side of the plate?

The Yankees have no use for a worse backup option if they plan on going with Wells and Trevino. Higashioka's had a chance to make his mark since eating into Gary Sánchez's playing time dating back to 2020. He's firmly proved he's not a starter, and that's OK. He still brings enough to the table to remain on an active roster, drilling 10 homers (exactly) annually since 2021.