In “Happy Gilmore,” as Adam Sandler’s main character and his arch nemesis, Shooter McGavin, battle on the 18th hole for the Tour Championship, McGavin’s drive lands in the crowd and on the foot of the intimidatingly large Mr. Larson. Once McGavin carefully chips the ball toward the green off his toes, Larson reminds the smug McGavin that he’s already on his second stroke.
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“Oh, you can count,” McGavin says. “Good for you.”
Larson then points menacingly at McGavin.
“And you can count on me waiting for you in the parking lot.”
At this point, you can also count on the New York Yankees going for it at the trade deadline July 30.
The 42-19 Yankees went into Monday with the best record in baseball and a three-game American League East lead over the Baltimore Orioles, last year’s division winner.
Who knows what general manager Brian Cashman might consider to be the Yankees’ biggest need at the deadline. Monday, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden wrote that the right side of the Yankees’ infield had underperformed and that the club could look to upgrade there. So, all eyes will be on first baseman Anthony Rizzo (87 OPS+) and second baseman Gleyber Torres (81 OPS+). They also might look to solidify the back end of their bullpen to go along with All-Star candidate Clay Holmes, Ian Hamilton, Tommy Kahnle and Luke Weaver.
Here are several potential trade chips for the Yankees to consider:
Likely untouchables
Jasson Domínguez, Spencer Jones
When the Yankees and the San Diego Padres were talking about the deal that eventually sent Juan Soto to the Bronx, the Yankees drew the line at top outfield prospects Spencer Jones and Jasson Domínguez. They figure to be mostly off the table once again. Domínguez, 21, was ranked by The Athletic’s Keith Law as the No. 13 overall prospect in baseball in his latest rankings update. The switch hitter could be the club’s center fielder of the future — or he could wind up in left field, if the Yankees keep Soto in right field and Aaron Judge in center field beyond this season.
As for Jones, he’s struggled this season at Double-A Somerset, hitting just .228 with a .665 OPS and a rough strikeout rate of 35 percent. But the Yankees believe in his monster power, speed, ability to play center field at a high level and his work ethic. The Yankees would likely need a game-changing return for Jones, ranked by Law as the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect.
BYE, BYE BASEBALL, SPENCER JONES!👋🏻
The Yankees No. 2 prospect smokes his third homer of the season 110 mph off the bat out to dead center!🔥 pic.twitter.com/KYfoea6qAA
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 1, 2024
Major-league chips
Alex Verdugo, Gleyber Torres
In spring training, it might have seemed more likely that the Yankees would part with Verdugo than Torres. Both players will be free agents at season’s end. But Verdugo was seen more as a capable placeholder for when Domínguez returned from Tommy John surgery in the summer. And though Torres’ name had floated in trade rumors in years past, he seemed primed to put up big numbers heading into free agency.
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Instead, Torres has been a disappointment, and Verdugo has not just given the Yankees the kind of stability in left field that they haven’t had since Brett Gardner, but he’s also become a major part of the clubhouse and a fan favorite for his “dawg” antics. (Torres, however, has rebounded to hit .278 with a .818 OPS over his last 20 games.)
Would the Yankees mess with team chemistry to get a needed asset and get Domínguez into the lineup? Maybe. Would the Yankees have a hard time filling in behind Torres at second base? Also maybe, though they have internal options in Jon Berti when he returns from the injured list, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza. Torres would be due the remainder of his $14.2 million salary. Verdugo is making $8.7 million.
Upper minors candidates
Everson Pereira, Oswald Peraza, Will Warren, Agustin Ramirez
The 23-year-old Pereira’s power remains prodigious, he’s capable of playing all over the outfield, and the Yankees love his makeup. But he’s still striking out a lot (32.4 percent), and the last time the Yankees had a highly talented yet strikeout-prone outfield prospect (Estevan Florial), he became trade fodder. Law ranked Pereira as the Yankees’ No. 2 overall prospect going into the season.
Everson Pereira crushes a 108.3 MPH homer pic.twitter.com/sea7BqwPkT
— . (@HalToHell) March 29, 2024
Peraza, almost 24, battled in spring training 2023 for the Yankees’ starting shortstop spot. A shoulder injury this spring training held him out of games until early May, and though he’s hit just .149 in 13 Triple-A games, the Yankees have bounced him around the infield. His defense remains high level and he’s got pop (.836 OPS in Triple-A in 2023).
Warren, Law’s No. 9 Yankees prospect, had a chance at the Yankees’ No. 5 starter spot this spring that went to Luis Gil. The 25-year-old righty pitched well in camp but has an 8.08 ERA and a 1.612 WHIP in 11 starts at Triple A.
Agustin Ramirez (AA) – C/1B | Age: 22 |
The Dominican-born catcher has incredible raw power, generating exit velocities north of 114 MPH, and he pairs that with a low strikeout rate (17.8%) and excellent results (157 wRC+) in his first full season with Somerset. pic.twitter.com/Lw1hH7Qnor
— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarciaESM) June 1, 2024
The Yankees have four backstops on their 40-man roster. They seem happy with what they’re getting out of Austin Wells and Jose Trevino, who won’t be a free agent until after next season, and the defense-first Carlos Narvez is their third catcher at Triple A. Agustin Ramirez, 22, has put up monster exit velocities and traditional numbers (.271 average, 12 home runs, .926 OPS, 45 games) at Double A, and though his defense lags behind his bat, he’s worked some first base into his game.
(Photo of Alex Verdugo: Darren Yamash*ta / USA Today)
Brendan Kuty is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering the New York Yankees and MLB. He has covered the Yankees since 2014, most recently as a beat reporter for NJ Advance Media. Brendan was honored to receive the 2022 New Jersey Sportswriter of the Year award from the National Sports Media Association. He attended William Paterson University and the County College of Morris, and he is from Hopatcong, N.J.
