Yankees have plentiful options after MLB insider reveals list of likely trade candidates

Trades! They're fun, especially when your front office is willing to gamble. New York Yankees fans don't feel that way, however, because Brian Cashman rarely takes the plunge. He either targets an absolute surefire win (Juan Soto) or swaps nothing for nothing (re: everything else).

If there was any offseason for Cashman to take a bit of a plunge, most fans would agree it's this one (even though it feels like we say that every year). But if the Yankees re-sign Juan Soto, they won't have much money to work with and they'll be forced to upgrade via trades.

Right on cue, Jim Bowden of The Athletic released his "Fifteen notable MLB players who could be traded this offseason" this week and now Yankees fans are truly wondering if the former GM's insight could lead them to some positive offseason news.

Here's who he had on his extensive list:

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
2. Garrett Crochet, SP, Chicago White Sox
3. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Ryan Helsley, RP, St. Louis Cardinals
5. Luis Robert Jr., OF, Chicago White Sox
6. Devin Williams, RP, Milwaukee Brewers
7. Wilyer Abreu, OF, Boston Red Sox
8. Sonny Gray, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
9. Yandy Diaz, 1B, Tampa Bay Rays
10. Ryan Pressly, RP, Houston Astros
11. Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals
12. Chris Bassitt, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
13. LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B/OF, San Francisco Giants
14. Jordan Montgomery, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
15. Mike Yastrzemski, OF, San Francisco Giants

Outside of Vladdy, Crochet, Gallen and Abreu, does anybody seem out of reach? We'll exclude Gray and Montgomery as well to avoid former Yankees, which still provides Cashman with nine possible players to chase. If we want to be even more conservative, take out Robert Jr., Arenado and Pressly, all of whom come with relatively elevated salaries.

Yankees could make bullpen makeover with Ryan Helsley or Devin Williams via trade

A bullpen makeover featuring Helsley or Williams would be massive. There are two first base options in Diaz (who the Yankees tried to acquire at the 2024 trade deadline) and Wade Jr.

For outfield depth purposes, Yastrzemski would be terrific. If the Yankees wanted to see if the Blue Jays would make a deal, targeting Bassitt would be their best bet because Toronto certainly wants to rid that salary (and it'd be a short-term cost for New York).

The Yankees could, in theory, fill a majority of their needs by making reasonable deals here. Acquiring Helsley/Williams, Diaz/Wade Jr. and Yastrzemski/Bassitt would effectively end their offseason (assuming Soto is re-signed, too). It would cost a decent amount of prospect capital, but nothing that would be prohibitive (such as the White Sox reportedly not viewing Jasson Dominguez + Spencer Jones as a reputable package for Crochet).

Trade talks will materialize in the coming weeks and packages will gradually come into focus, so Yankees fans should keep their eye on a number of these players as the market unfolds.