A look at the prospects the Yankees have traded/lost over the last several years. This list is comprehensive (in my opinion) but likely not complete. So many prospects are lost to minor league free agency or latch on somewhere after the Yankees release them. Impossible to keep up with all of them.
The Devin Williams deal:
IF Caleb Durbin – Durbin established a cult following amongst prospect watchers. But did the hype match up with the talent? The Brewers, who had trouble putting runs on the board, promoted Durbin to create a spark. So far, the spark isn’t igniting as Durbin is hitting .215/.303/.326 (81 wRC+) in 167 plate appearances with five stolen bases in seven attempts. While his ability to make contact remains (7.2% K rate), MLB pitchers dare him to hit the ball (5.4% BB). So far, he isn’t making them pay for that approach, as his hard-hit percentage is amongst the worst in baseball. Additionally, he is grading poorly on defense, making baserunning his only current above-average skill. Work is needed.
The Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz deal:
C Carlos Narvaez – Narvaez is a pleasant surprise for the Red Sox, hitting an impressive .282/.361/.459 (128 wRC+) over 191 plate appearances. He has stolen the catching job from Connor Wong. Combined with solid defense, he is worth 2.2 fWAR, which ranks third amongst MLB catchers (despite not qualifying for rate statistic leaderboards). By comparison, Austin Wells is currently 7th at 1.6. While Rodriguez-Cruz intrigues and the bonus money acquired allowed the Yankees to sign additional talent (namely, SS Stiven Marinez), the Red Sox are winning this trade. Will that continue? Some of his Savant data indicates he won’t be this good all year, but the defense is so good that he doesn’t have to be the hitter he is now to maintain strong value. It will be a while before we see the impact of Rodriguez-Cruz or Marinez, whether with the Yankees or as trade pieces.
The Enyel De Los Santos deal:
OF Brandon Lockridge – The speedy Lockridge has 1.3 BsR in limited action. That, combined with solid defensive play, pushes him above zero (0.3) in fWAR. That is useful for the last player on the bench, but his bat shows he shouldn’t be more than that (.224/.287/.309; 73 wRC+).
The Yankees also picked up relief prospect Thomas Balboni Jr., who is out for the season.
The Mark Leiter Jr. deal:
RHP Jack Neely – Considered one of the Yankees’ top relief prospects, Neely isn’t living up to the hype. After his acquisition, he posted a 9.00 ERA in six innings for the Cubs. For Triple-A Iowa this season, he owns a 5.47 ERA (5.93 FIP) over 24.2 innings with a strong K% (27%) but a horrible BB% (16.4%). If he can get that rate down to where he was with the Yankees, he can get back on track. I make it sound so easy.
IF Ben Cowles – Cowles is having a tough time in Triple-A Iowa, hitting .221/.277/.361 with a whopping 29% K. He is playing mostly shortstop with some action at second base and third base.
A trade that made people nervous in 2024 is working out fine for the Yankees in 2025.
The Jazz Chisholm Jr. deal:
C/1B Agustin Ramirez – Playing in 39 games for the Marlins, Ramirez is hitting .245/.304/.471 (113 wRC+) in 168 plate appearances. Splitting time between designated hitter and catcher, his defense and baserunning are weak and are dragging down his fWAR considerably (0.1). His future may be at 1B/DH, though the Marlins can be patient.
2B/SS Jared Serna – Another prospect with a cult following amongst Yankees’ prospect observers, Serna is struggling in Double-A. In 42 games (181 plate appearances), he is hitting .197/.286/.242 (63 wRC+) with one home run and a 10-for-17 stolen base rate.
IF Abrahan Ramirez – The lottery ticket in the deal has spent the season in Low-A, hitting .250/.377/.321 (110 wRC+) in 204 plate appearances.
Chisholm Jr. has warts, but acquiring him made sense. The Yankees traded Serna at his peak value, it appears. Ramirez looks like a legitimate big league bat, but one is justified in worrying about his future behind the plate.
The JT Brubaker deal:
2B/SS Keiner Delgado – Delgado (21) is playing in High-A, compiling an impressive .255/.365/.457 (129 wRC+) line over 223 plate appearances. He already has nine home runs, tying his career high (which he accomplished in 386 plate appearances). The smallish (5’7″) infielder may have a utility profile, but he is outpacing that this year. We’ll see if that continues.
Brubaker is on a rehab stint and has yet to throw an inning for the Yankees. Once his stint is over, the Yankees cannot option him to the minors. Acquiring anything for him was smart for the Pirates, though I wouldn’t be in panic mode.
The Cody Morris deal:
OF Estevan Florial – Florial flopped in Cleveland and is now in Korea. He is hitting .271/.333/.450 in 285 plate appearances. This is what I would expect Florial to do in Korea.
After spending 2024 in the Yankees system, Morris hasn’t appeared anywhere in 2025.
The Clayton Andrews deal (say what?):
RHP Joshua Quezada – The 21-year-old is in the ACL (the equivalent of the FCL), where he is 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA in 11.1 relief innings.
Andrews briefly pitched for the Yankees, but this was a nothingburger deal.
The Jon Berti deal:
OF John Cruz – In 2023, Cruz was a breakout FCL star, hitting .294/.376/.531 with 10 home runs in 48 games. That may have been his peak, as he hit .168/.259/.212 in 81 Low-A games for the Marlins last year. Cruz has played only 20 games this year (split between Low-A and the FCL), hitting .127/.244/.169. Oof.
Injuries limited Berti to 25 games for the Yankees last season. This season, he is playing for the Cubs, where he is hitting .224/.280/.250 with an 8-for-9 stolen base rate in 33 games. He has only had one plate appearance since May 20th. This trade won’t likely make the Hall of Fame of baseball deals.
The Caleb Ferguson deal:
RHP Christian Zazueta – The 20-year-old is 5-2 with a 2.84 ERA (4.54 FIP) over 50.2 innings in Low-A. He owns an impressive 25.4% K rate while walking only 6.2%. Why is his FIP so high? There is luck in his profile, as he has given up six home runs, and his LOB% is 84%. Fangraphs likes him. MLB Pipeline? He isn’t even in the Top 30.
As for Ferguson, he was brought in to be a swing-and-miss left-handed reliever, and it didn’t work out. The Yankees traded him to the Astros (where he has pitched fairly well) for promising relief prospect Kelly Austin. Now, he is toiling away with the hapless Pirates, because every former Yankee finds their way to the Pirates.
The Victor Gonzalez/Jorbit Vivas deal:
SS Trey Sweeney – Sweeney is the everyday shortstop for Detroit, where he is hitting only .220/.276/.309 (66 wRC+) in 210 plate appearances. Sweeney is fast, and his bat speed metric is promising. However, those are the only Savant metrics that see him in a positive light, and his fWAR is -0.1.
Gonzalez (who is on the 7-day injured list for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City) was a bust for the Yankees, and Vivas hasn’t shown much (though his only home run won a game). As for Sweeney, the former first-round pick is having issues generating momentum. The Tigers continue to throw him out there as the squad continues to win games.
The Juan Soto deal:
RHP Drew Thorpe – A dominant 2023 season raised Thorpe’s trade value immensely, allowing the Yankees to use him in the Soto package. Since being traded to the White Sox in the Dylan Cease transaction, he posted a 5.48 ERA in 9 starts (44.1 innings) last season. Thorpe had started his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but suffered a setback in March. He hasn’t taken the hill since.
RHP Jhony Brito – Brito was a decent reliever for the Padres in 2024, posting a 4.12 ERA (3.72 FIP) over 43.2 innings. As Yankees fans know, Brito didn’t miss bats (15.7% K) but kept walks to a minimum (5.4%). Brito hasn’t pitched in 2025 due to a UCL injury and won’t be back until sometime in 2026.
RHP Randy Vasquez – Vasquez has made 13 starts for the Padres, going 3-4 with a 3.69 ERA (5.34 FIP) over 63.1 innings. Vasquez is bobbing and weaving his way through starts, as his 12.3% BB and 13.4% K are well worse than league average, while his GB% (40.6) is around league average. Given his innings per start, the Padres are likely using a quick hook strategy, which seems prudent.
RHP Michael King – I include King in this analysis because he was the biggest piece of the trade, but he was no longer a prospect at the time of the trade. King started the season strongly (4-2 with a 2.59 ERA, 28.4% K and 7.6% BB over 55.2 innings). However, he has been on the shelf for weeks due to a pinched nerve in his shoulder. While structural damage was ruled out, that’s bad timing for someone looking at a potential 9-digit payday this winter.
The Yankees had to make this trade. It went from a “grand slam” to a “3-run homer” when Soto signed with the Mets, though the Yankees did well spreading around the money this winter. I don’t think either side is complaining, though the Padres may lose King.
The Alex Verdugo deal:
RHP Richard Fitts – Young pitchers coming down with injuries is a theme in some of these trades, and Fitts is no different. He recently returned from a pectoral injury and is in the minors. For the MLB club, he made five starts, compiling a 4.71 ERA, 16.5% K, 7.7% BB, and 38.8% ground ball.
RHP Nicholas Judice – Judice started the season in Low-A, and it was a disaster (16 walks in 3.1 innings!). He is on the 7-day injured list. I don’t have much more to say beyond that.
RHP Greg Weissert – Weissert made his presence known in this past weekend’s series. The 30-year-old owns a 2.76 ERA (3.17 FIP) over 29.1 innings with a 25.2% K and 5.9% BB. Walks were an issue for Weissert in his minor league career, but he started reducing them in 2024.
Verdugo was a disaster. I am not sure if Fitts is going to haunt the Yankees, but Weissert’s emergence (go ahead, try to figure out relievers) makes this a win for the Red Sox.
The Keynan Middleton deal:
RHP Juan Carela – Did I say something about injuries? Carela is on the full-season injured list and won’t pitch in 2025. Last season, he posted a 3.71 ERA (4.13 FIP) in 106.2 innings with a 25.2% K and 9.9% BB in High-A/Double-A. Since the White Sox are in the midst of a massive rebuild, he had a chance to make his debut this season. It wasn’t meant to be.
Middleton pitched well enough after the Yankees acquired him, but that was the last time he appeared in MLB. After being placed on the 60-day injured list by the Cardinals in 2024, he elected free agency after the season. He hasn’t signed anywhere since. Assuming he isn’t done pitching, he’ll probably hold a showcase whenever he is healed.
The Frankie Montas deal:
LHP Ken Waldichuk – Waldichuk pitched for the Athletics in 2022 and 2023, compiling a 6-11 record and 5.28 ERA over 175.2 innings. As you may expect, given the fate of others on this list, he had Tommy John surgery in 2024 and is not yet recovered. He has started throwing, however, and should begin a rehab stint at some point this year.
RHP Luis Medina – The talented Medina pitched for the Athletics in 2023 and 2024, compiling a 5-14 record with a 5.35 ERA over 149.2 innings. Limiting walks was an issue, and he didn’t strike out hitters at the rate he needed to if he wished to be effective. Where is he now? You guessed it: He is likely out for the season due to Tommy John surgery.
LHP JP Sears – Going against the injury grain, Sears is a bulldog in the Athletics rotation. He made 32 starts in 2023 and 2024 and is on pace to do that again in 2025. While the results aren’t mesmerizing (5.21 ERA/5.31 FIP in 13 starts this year), he is a good enough rotation filler with home run issues (2.0/9 this season; 1.6/9 in 490.1 career innings). It should be noted that while his away numbers aren’t great, he is being torched in Sacramento (6.00 ERA/9 HR in 24 innings)
IF Cooper Bowman – Triple-A hasn’t been kind to Bowman. He is hitting only .190/.293/.290 (42 wRC+) with five stolen bases in six attempts. As they say, you can’t steal first base (Bowman swiped 43 bags in 2024). He did enough in 2024 for the Reds to take a flyer on him in the Rule 5 draft, but he was returned to the Athletics before the season.
Montas didn’t work out and continues to battle injuries. From the Athletics’ perspective, the three pitchers they acquired were all in the same rotation at one point. To them, that’s a win – even if the combined contribution hasn’t been ideal.
The Scott Effross deal:
RHP Hayden Wesneski -The Astros acquired Wesneski as part of the Kyle Tucker trade last winter. Using him in the rotation after the Cubs had him work out of the bullpen, he was 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts with a 22.1% K and 4.6% BB. However, you guessed it – he is now on the injured list. He will require Tommy John surgery.
Effross looked like a savvy acquisition, but injuries have destroyed his career. Years later, he is still trying to work his way back to MLB (made a brief appearance in 2024).
The Andrew Benintendi deal:
RHP Beck Way – Way was an intriguing prospect at the time of the trade, but it isn’t working out well. He owns a 6.18 ERA in 27.2 Double-A innings this season. He is exclusively a relief pitcher now.
RHP Chandler Champlain – Champlain is toiling in Triple-A Omaha, posting an unsightly 9.23 ERA (5.94 FIP) in 51.2 innings. The Royals have kept him in the rotation.
LHP T.J. Sikkema – Sikkema was an interesting prospect at one time, as he was pitching to a 2.48 ERA in 36.1 innings at High-A at the time of the trade. He is now in the Reds’ organization, where he pitched to a 3.61 ERA (3.59 FIP) in 72.1 innings for their High-A/Double-A squads last year. This year, in Double-A, he owns a 4.91 ERA (4.18 FIP) over 18.1 innings. He was recently activated from the injured list.
Benintendi played well in 33 games for the Yankees, but an injury kept him away from the postseason. None of the three pitchers traded are doing much.
The Jose Trevino deal
LHP Robby Ahlstrom – Drafted by the Yankees out of Oregon, Ahlstrom never threw a pitch for the organization. He has steadily moved up the chain for the Rangers and has posted a 2.55 ERA in 24.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He has converted six of eight save opportunities.
The Yankees acquired a Platinum Glove catcher for a pitcher who hadn’t thrown a professional pitch. You take that value any day. Additionally, they used him to acquire Fernando Cruz. As for Ahlstrom, he is chugging along since moving to the bullpen in 2023, posting solid strikeout rates. There’s a decent shot that he makes it to MLB.
The Clay Holmes deal:
UTIL Hoy Park – Park hasn’t played in MLB since 2022. He played for the Athletics’ Triple-A squad in 2024, but is nowhere to be found in 2025.
UTIL Diego Castillo – Castillo played with three different clubs (Pirates, Diamondbacks, Twins) from 2022 to 2024. Castillo is a “tweener” – good enough for clubs to want as depth, but not so good that they are willing to sacrifice 40-man roster space for him. Hence, during the 2024 offseason, he bounced around to several clubs (including the Yankees). Anyway, this winter, he signed a minor league deal with the Mets and was traded to the Royals in May. He is hitting well for Omaha (.311/.446/.533 in 13 games).
The Mets signed Holmes this winter and converted him into a starter. No matter what you think about his Yankees’ tenure, this trade was a steal.
The Andrew Heaney deal:
RHP Janson Junk – Junk has appeared in at least one game for five straight seasons with the Angels, Brewers, Athletics, and Marlins. Now 29, he threw five innings of relief against the Angels on May 24th, converting his first MLB save in the process. He is still with the MLB club, though he has made only three appearances in long relief.
RHP Elvis Peguero – Peguero has also appeared in at least one game for five straight seasons. In his case, it’s with the Angels and Brewers (they were included in the same trade for a second time when the Angels shipped them to the Brewers for Hunter Renfroe). He is currently with the Brewers Triple-A club, but has maintained his 40-man roster spot.
The Yankees saw something in Heaney, and his decent performance since leaving the organization shows that they were right about that. As for Junk and Peguero, neither would have ever been in the Yankees’ plans.
The Anthony Rizzo deal:
RHP Alexander Vizcaino – Vizcaino has been out of affiliated ball since 2021.
OF Kevin Alcantara – Of all the prospects the Yankees have given up over the past several years, Alcantara had/has the highest ceiling. He briefly made his MLB debut in 2024, going 1-for-10. Still ranked amongst the Top 100 prospects in baseball, he is hitting .237/.326/.400 in 218 plate appearances for Triple-A Iowa. Those aren’t numbers that keep you in the Top 100.
Rizzo gave the Yankees a lot of production until a concussion essentially ended his career. I think that is fair to say. Alcantara is struggling in the minors this year, but he should get more MLB chances.
The Joey Gallo deal:
RHP Glenn Otto – Otto hasn’t pitched in 2025, as he is currently on the injured list for Houston’s Triple-A affiliate. He hasn’t appeared in MLB since 2023.
UTIL Ezequiel Duran – Duran’s free-swinging ways were a blessing for half of 2023. Beyond that, MLB pitchers have caught on, and he hasn’t been nearly as effective. He hit only .246/.288/.321 in 285 plate appearances last year. That looks Ruthian compared to his 2025 campaign (4-for-37; .108/.128/.135). He also spent time in the minors
UTIL Josh H. Smith – Smith contributed 3.2 bWAR in 2024, winning a Silver Slugger Award (for utility players) in the process. He is hitting similarly in 2025 (.269/.336/.399 with five homers) while playing first base, second base, third base, shortstop (most of his games), left field, center field, and right field. He would be an outstanding fit for the Yankees, given his versatility.
UTIL Trevor Hauver – In his debut 2021 season for the Yankees, Hauver was an instant sensation. He homered in his first five professional games (including one 2-HR effort). He hit only three more homers over his next 61 games before being dealt to the Rangers. In 133 Triple-A games, he is hitting .246/.356/.423 with 16 homers and 77 RBI. He recently returned from the injured list.
Smith alone has turned this trade into a big win for the Rangers.
The Jameson Taillon deal:
RHP Roansy Contreras – Contreras was a big get at the time for the Pirates, though it hasn’t worked out in MLB. In 90 MLB games for the Pirates and Angels, he owns a meh 4.72 ERA (4.80 FIP) over 234.2 innings. He bounced around on waivers last winter, including a Yankees’ claim at one point. He is now with the Orioles’ organization, where he owns a 4.63 ERA in 35 innings for Triple-A Norfolk.
RHP Miguel Yajure – Yajure last appeared in MLB back in 2022. He has found a home in Japan, and it wouldn’t be shocking if an MLB team gave him another shot. In 2025, he owns an impressive 1.45 ERA in 43.1 innings with a 23/11 K/BB.
OF Canaan Smith-Njigba – Smith-Njigba is nowhere to be found after electing minor league free agency in 2024. His last appearance was in the Puerto Rican Winter League, where he went 1-for-12 in four games.
IF Maikol Escotto – All these years later, Escotto is still hanging around in the Pirates’ organization. He finally figured out High-A in his third season there, but has struggled in Double-A (2-for-25). He is still only 23.
While Taillon didn’t stand out (he had his moments), the Yankees aren’t regretting this trade.
Others:
RHP Yoendrys Gomez – The Yankees designated Gomez for assignment earlier this season. The Dodgers grabbed him, but he wasn’t effective in 4.1 innings (10 hits, 7 runs, 2 BB, 6 K). After they designated him for assignment, the White Sox picked him up. For Chicago, he pitched to an 8.10 ERA in three games before being designated for assignment again. This time, however, he cleared waivers and the White Sox outrighted him to Triple-A.
OF Grant Richardson – Recently released by the Yankees, Richardson has hooked up with the Miami Marlins. He has made an instant impression, going 5-for-9 with a pair of homers for their Double-A affiliate.
RHP Osiel Rodriguez – Many were surprised when the Yankees cut Rodriguez, but none of the other 29 MLB teams were interested. He is pitching in the Mexican League, where he owns a 5.76 ERA in 25 innings with a 12/12 K/BB. Many players use the Mexican League route to try to capture the attention of MLB clubs.
LHP Josh Maciejewski – Maciejewski lived his MLB dream in 2024, pitching to a 2.57 ERA in seven innings. Granted minor league free agency, he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 13 games between their Double-A and Triple-A clubs, he owns a 4.15 ERA in 30.1 innings with a 32/11 K/BB.
C Anthony Seigler – The Yankees’ first-round pick in the 2018 draft was seen as an athletic, switch-hitting catcher. Injuries robbed him of playing time. In 2024, he didn’t play one game behind the dish as the Yankees converted him into a second baseman. He ended up hitting .234/.350/.398 with 24 doubles, 12 homers, and 29 stolen bases in a career-high 120 games. That wasn’t enough for the Yankees to add him to the 40-man roster, so he left via minor league free agency. Now with Triple-A Nashville (Brewers), he is splitting time between catcher and second base while hitting .307/.444/.521 with 17 stolen bases, 38 walks, and 41 strikeouts. His athleticism is still there, and his unique versatility could get him a shot in MLB. It seemed unlikely that it would ever come with the Yankees.
RHP Mitch Spence – Taken by the Athletics in the 2023 Rule 5 draft, Spence pitched OK in 2024, compiling a 4.58 ERA (4.21 FIP; 86 ERA+) over 151.1 innings. In 2025, he has pitched mostly out of the bullpen, though he made his first start on June 5th. He owns a 4.09 ERA (3.91 FIP; 100 ERA+) in 44 innings. Not all Rule 5 picks become Johan Santana. Spence was a solid move by the Athletics.
RHP Matt Sauer – Sauer, drafted by the Royals in the 2023 Rule 5, was sent back to the Yankees during the 2024 season. While he pitched well for Somerset (not so well for Scranton), Sauer was not added to the 40-man roster this winter. He ended up signing with the Dodgers, where he has posted a 3.05 ERA (4.13 FIP) over 20.2 IP. He was recently demoted to Triple-A.
RHP Carson Coleman – Coleman is back in the Yankees’ organization, where he is currently on a rehab stint.
1B/3B Andres Chaparro – Given a shot with the bad 2024 Washington Nationals, Chaparro hit .215/.280/.413 with 12 doubles and 4 home runs (his first came against the Yankees) in 33 games. An oblique injury interrupted the start of his 2025 campaign, and he is playing for Triple-A Rochester (.304/.400/.625 in 15 games)
LHP Matt Krook – Krook pitched for the Yankees in 2023, the Orioles in 2024, and the Athletics in 2025. In eight games covering those three seasons, he owns a 16.20 ERA in 8.1 innings. The Athletics designated him for assignment on May 27th. The Cleveland Guardians claimed him, and he is currently pitching for their Triple-A affiliate.
UTIL Oliver Dunn – The Yankees’ 11th-round pick in 2019, Dunn has played in 55 games for the Brewers over the last two years, hitting .206/.261/.290. He is still on their 40-man roster, though he is playing for their Triple-A affiliate. His value appears to be that of a shuttle utility infielder.
1B Eric Wagaman – Wagaman, the Yankees’ 13th-round pick in 2017, is an example of a player who was unlikely to make it to MLB with the Yankees. However, going to the Angels opened up an opportunity in 2024. He hit .250/.270/.403 with a pair of home runs in 18 games. Granted free agency after being designated for assignment, he signed with the Marlins and is hitting .248/.293/.369 with four homers in 59 games as a 1B/3B/LF.
UTIL Mickey Gasper – Taken by the Red Sox in the minor league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 draft, the 29-year-old went 0-for-12 in ten MLB games. The Red Sox traded him to the Twins in December 2024. In 17 games for the big club, he hit .176/.282/.206 before landing back in Triple-A St. Paul. Gasper fought his way up from a 29th-round pick to MLB.
C/1B Josh Breaux – The 27-year-old is struggling in the Phillies organization, hitting .186/.268/.314 with only two home runs in 26 games. Breaux without home runs is like syrup without the pancakes.
1B Dermis Garcia – After receiving a 39-game tryout with the 2022 Oakland Athletics, Garcia hasn’t sniffed MLB. He spent 2024 in the Nationals’ organization but is nowhere to be found in 2025. I hope he invested his $1,000,000+ signing bonus wisely (or I hope those who advised him didn’t steal too much of it).
RHP Deivi Garcia – Garcia’s career is at a crossroads. After being signed to a minor league deal by the Brewers last winter, he compiled a 5.45 ERA in 33 innings for Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers released him on June 4th.