Yankees stunningly trade for spark plug Tampa Bay Rays shortstop in middle of game

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays played into the bottom of the fifth inning on Thursday afternoon before monsoon conditions came down and soaked the field in the Bronx. The trade deadline took center stage while the game was paused, and as the delay stretched past the two-hour mark, it seemed only natural that the game would soon be canceled. After all, both the Rays and Yankees had plenty of business to take care of, even if it was taking place hundreds of miles away in their adjoining Tampa war rooms.

Who knew that that business was between the two of them, and would directly affect the game on the field in New York - which stunningly resumed around 5:30 PM?!

Though the Rays lost three players to injury during the game's first five innings, they still went through with swapping Jose Caballero and his league-leading 34 stolen bases to the Yankees midway through the seventh inning. In exchange, New York will send slugging outfielder Everson Pereira and a player to be named later.

And that is one reason why it was foolish for MLB to resume this baseball game. Now, the short-handed Rays just got one player shorter handed ... and handed him directly to the Yankees.

Yankees trade for Jose Caballero of the Tampa Bay Rays mid-game

That's one way to open up a 40-man roster spot.

Caballero could turn Peraza's role, in which the former top prospect was a glorified caretaker, into a genuine weapon for the Yankees. The hard-nosed Caballero is a speed demon and plays a confident brand of baseball, both offensively and defensively. Prized for his versatility, he's been worth 1.3 bWAR this season with an impressive .328 OBP (to go along with his .226 average). He also famously received a finger wag in the face from Gerrit Cole back in the summer of 2023.

Over the past week, the Yankees have added a defensive star at third base in Ryan McMahon, as well as three genuine adults for bench depth. Pereira could see a greater opportunity to show off his power in Tampa, but this one was a no-brainer. It was also, based on the circumstances, a genuine jaw-dropper.