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 Jameson Taillon deal:
RHP Roansy Contreras – Purchased by the Angels from the Pirates, Contreras is pitching pretty well (3.99 ERA/4.96 FIP in 49.2 IP). The Angels haven’t been able to add strikeouts to his game (18.9%) but his GB% has spiked to 48.6 (higher than the league average). He is used mostly in middle relief, though he has three starts and a pair of saves.
RHP Miguel Yajure – Yajure has found a home in Japan, where he owns a 3.40 ERA over 124.1 innings with an 81/41 K/BB for the Yakult Swallows.
OF Canaan Smith-Njigba – The Pirates released Smith-Njigba in July and he was picked up a month later by the White Sox. Between all levels, he is hitting .210/.329/.315 in 309 plate appearances. After playing in 18 MLB games in 2022-2023, he hasn’t appeared in 2024.
IF Maikol Escotto – Escotto hasn’t been able to adjust to High-A. After a .213/.272/.347 line in 89 games in 2023, he returned to post a .215/.257/.355 line in 68 games this year.
While Taillon didn’t stand out (he had his moments), the Yankees aren’t regretting this trade.
The Joey Gallo deal:
RHP Glenn Otto – Otto is bouncing around. After being claimed by the Padres last September, he was released by the organization earlier this year. He has since caught on with the Astros, where he pitched in two games for their Triple-A affiliate before landing on the IL.
UTIL Ezequiel Duran – A key contributor in the first half of the 2023 championship season, Duran’s free-swinging ways have seemingly been figured out. This season, he owns a .253/.293/.331 (80 OPS+) line in 273 plate appearances On the positive side, his K% is 21.6%, down nearly 6% from his s023 mark.
UTIL Josh H. Smith – Like Duran in 2023, Smith played well in the first half in 2024, hitting .293/.392/.469. However, the SS/3B has faltered in the second half, hitting only .223/.274/.307. The combined result is solid (.263/.343/.400 (114 OPS+) with 13 HR, 7.9% BB, and 20.2% K). If he can settle into that production, he will be useful.
UTIL Trevor Hauver – After a slow start to his first Triple-A campaign, Hauver improved to finish the season at .247/.360/.425 in 420 plate appearances. However, in the souped-up PCL, that is good for only a 99 wRC+.
The Rangers received a pair of useful players in Duran and Smith for a player whose career was about to crash and burn. They are happy with that.
The Anthony Rizzo deal:
RHP Alexander Vizcaino – After failing to report to the Cubs last year, Vizcaino resurfaced in the Dominican Winter League, where he pitched to a 2.70 ERA in five games. There hasn’t been a sign of him since.
OF Kevin Alcantara – Alcantara is close to making his MLB debut. The 22-year-old played in 35 Triple-A games this season, hitting .292/.378/.469 in 148 plate appearances with a high K% (29.1). Like Yankees prospect Spencer Jones, Alcantara is a big (6’6″) athletic kid with potential to tap into. While he can handle CF in MLB, he will likely settle into RF in Chicago.
The Andrew Heaney deal:
RHP Janson Junk – Junk appeared in five games for the Brewers before being designated for assignment. After being plucked off waivers by the Astros, he was dumped again. He has landed in Oakland, where he allowed 7 runs without recording an out in an appearance on September 4th. He was demoted to Triple-A.
RHP Elvis Peguero – Peguero was a cog in the Brewers’ division-winning bullpen, compiling a 2.98 ERA (4.04 FIP) with a pair of saves over 51.1 innings before being sent down to the minors in mid-September. Peguero isn’t a swing-and-miss type but he generates a high percentage of ground balls (55.6%) while keeping the ball in the ballpark (4 HR).
The Yankees traded a pair of spare parts for Heaney, both of whom were traded as a package (again) to the Brewers. Peguero has developed into a useful reliever since moving to Milwaukee.
The Clay Holmes deal:
UTIL Hoy Park – Park has spent the 2024 season playing for Las Vegas (Oakland’s Triple-A club), hitting .254/.374/.397 in 434 plate appearances. He hasn’t appeared in MLB since 2022.
UTIL Diego Castillo – Castillo is quickly becoming an Immaculate Grid legend. The 24-year-old utilityman has appeared for three teams over three years (Pittsburgh, Arizona, Minnesota). He is 2-for-8 in four games for the Twins but spent most of his campaign in Triple-A (.261/.364/.397). He briefly returned to the Yankees’ organization last winter when he was claimed off waivers, but was subsequently claimed by the Phillies two weeks later.
Holmes’ erratic pitching is well-documented, but this trade was and still is a steal.
The Jose Trevino deal:
LHP Robby Ahlstrom – The 25-year-old has ascended to the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock, where he pitched to a 3.98 ERA in 20.1 innings with a 15/8 K/BB. Ahlstrom was the Yankees’ 7th-round pick in 2021 but never appeared in a game for the organization.
The Andrew Benintendi deal:
RHP Beck Way – Way spent most of the season in the Double-A bullpen, pitching to a 3.88 ERA (4.62 FIP) in 58 innings with a 15.3% BB and 24.1% K.
RHP Chandler Champlain – The 6’5″ Champlain tossed 104.1 innings for the Royals’ Triple-A club in Omaha, compiling a 5.61 ERA (5.74 FIP) with a 15.5% K and 9.9% BB. He is Rule 5 eligible this winter.
LHP T.J. Sikkema – Now in the Reds’ organization (minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft), Sikkema pitched well for their A+/AA squads, compiling a 3.61 ERA with a 72/16 K/BB over 72.1 innings.
At the time of the trade, I was impressed with the Royas’ haul. The pitchers have yet to make the Yankees have any regrets, however. Way was moved to the bullpen and has control issues. Champlain hasn’t pitched well in Triple-A, and Sikkema is trying to get his career going after some injuries.
The Scott Effross deal:
RHP Hayden Wesneski – Wesneski spent time on the injured list in 2024, but returned recently to the Cubs’ bullpen. In 2024, he owns a 3.97 ERA (4.58 FIP) in 65.2 IP with 23.8% K, 7.6% BB, and 43.6% GB.
I was bullish on Wesneski when he was in the Yankees’ organization. While the Cubs could try him again as a starter, I think his best place of residence is the bullpen. As for Effross, 2024 will go down as a rehab year. The hope is that he rediscovers his stuff in 2025.
The Frankie Montas deal:
LHP Ken Waldichuk – Waldichuk is out for the season. He didn’t appear in any games at any level in 2024. Here’s hoping for a full recovery.
RHP Luis Medina – Medina is on the 60-day injured list. In 8 big league starts in 2024, he went 2-4 with a 5.18 ERA (4.44 FIP) over 40 innings with a 17.8% K and 11.1% BB. Medina will have a tough time establishing himself in MLB if he doesn’t miss bats as it seems unlikely he will be able to reduce his BB% by much.
LHP JP Sears – At the very least, Sears is durable. After starting 32 games in 2023, he has taken the ball 31 times in 2024. His 2024 numbers don’t jump out (11-12, 4.43 ERA (4.61 FIP) over 174.2 innings with an 18.1% K and 6.3% BB) but Oakland needs innings, and he provides that. His ability to take the ball and gobble up innings will keep him in the majors.
IF Cooper Bowman – After dominating Double-A, Bowman finished the season at Triple-A, hitting .218/.284/.308 (48 wRC+) in 152 plate appearances.
Oakland received four decent prospects for Montas. I don’t think they are complaining.
The Greg Allen deal:
RHP Diego Hernandez – Hernandez (20) appeared in 10 games for the FCL Red Sox, posting a 6.10 ERA and 15/17 K/BB over 10.1 innings.
The Keynan Middleton deal:
RHP Juan Carela – Carela ascended to Double-A Birmingham this year, posting a 3.58 ERA in 32.2 IP with a 36/13 K/BB.
Carela isn’t an upside pitcher, but the White Sox did fine in acquiring him for a rental reliever.
The Alex Verdugo deal:
RHP Richard Fitts – Fitts is making an early impression in MLB. In 3 starts, he owns a 0.00 ERA (3.23 FIP) over 15.2 innings. However, he isn’t missing bats (11.1% K) and his GB% isn’t overwhelming (41.2). Whether he is sustainable or not, he is turning out to be a good enough get.
RHP Nicholas Judice – The 23-year-old owned a 5.19 ERA between the FCL/A. He threw only 8.2 innings.
RHP Greg Weissert – Weissert has received a 60-game bullpen tryout for the Red Sox, posting a 3.23 ERA (3.80 FIP) over 61.1 IP with a 21.9% K and 7.8% BB. The 29-year-old has limited right-handed hitters to a .270/.299/.329 (.628 OPS) line but lefties hit him at a .290/.370/.527 clip.
Verdugo did not provide what the Yankees were looking for. The Red Sox received a promising back-end starter/swingman and a reliever who can fill out a bullpen. The Red Sox did well for themselves.
The Juan Soto deal:
RHP Drew Thorpe – Thorpe was subsequently traded to the White Sox (brilliant Dylan Cease transaction). For the White Sox, he made 9 starts, going 3-2 with a 5.48 ERA (5.87 FIP) and 13.2% K/11.1% BB over 44.1 innings. A right flexor strain cut his season short.
RHP Jhony Brito – Before ending up on the 60-day injured list, Brito appeared in 26 games for the Padres, posting a 4.12 ERA (3.72 FIP) over 43.2 IP. His calling card is an above-league-average GB% (47.3) as missing bats is an issue (15.7% K).
RHP Randy Vasquez – Vasquez was sent to the minors for the September playoff drive. Before that, he made 19 starts for the Padres, compiling a 5.18 ERA (4.79 FIP) over 92 innings with a 14.2% K and 6.9% BB. A not-so-encouraging sign is the .317/.369/.492 that hitters posted against him. Essentially, he turned every hitter into Corey Seager/Freddie Freeman.
RHP Michael King – While the “We aren’t giving up King!” stuff was posturing, the Yankees knew what they had with the 29-year-old. King is putting together an incredible season for the Padres, going 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA (3.33 FIP) over 173.2 IP with a 27.7% K and 8.7% BB. He is 4th in the NL in ERA, 7th in FIP, and 5th in H/9 (7.463) and strikeouts (201). While the Padres have a solid rotation, King has earned a chance to start in the playoffs.
It’s Juan Soto. I don’t care what the Yankees gave up to land one of baseball’s elite hitters. However, to make the trade a grand slam for the Bronx Bombers requires a contract extension.
The Victor Gonzalez/Jorbit Vivas deal:
SS Trey Sweeney – Sweeney was shipped to the Tigers in the Jack Flaherty trade. He has contributed to their late-season playoff surge, posting a .242/.291/.421 (100 OPS+) line in 32 games.
Gonzalez was a bust for the Yankees. This deal comes down to Vivas vs. Sweeney (and Flaherty, if you want to use the transitive property). Sweeney was traded to the perfect situation. As for Vivas, he could be in the 2025 second-base mix for the Yankees.
The Caleb Ferguson deal:
RHP Christian Zazueta – Only 19, Zazueta made his way to Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, where he posted a 6.36 ERA over 52.1 IP with a 63/20 K/BB. The road ahead of him is long, but the Dodgers thought enough of him to get him into a full-season league relatively quickly.
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.
The Jon Berti deal:
OF John Cruz – To put it bluntly, Cruz had a forgettable season in Low-A, posting a .169/.259/.213 (45 wRC+) line over 314 plate appearances. While still young, Cruz is another example of not taking Rookie League stats (he hit .294/.376/.531 last year) seriously.
The Clayton Andrews deal:
RHP Joshua Quezada – The 20-year-old spent the season in the DSL for the Brewers, going 2-2 with a 3.44 ERA in 34 innings. He struck out 40 and walked 14. There isn’t much to evaluate him on. That said, Andrews was forgettable.
The Cody Morris deal:
OF Estevan Florial – Florial flopped for Cleveland, hitting .173/.264/.367 in 111 plate appearances. He wasn’t his usual self in Triple-A (.213/.320/.371). His speed and defense may get him several cups of MLB coffee (better than most professional players), but any talk that the Yankees “screwed him” should go away now.
As for Morris, he was called up to the Yankees (but didn’t pitch) earlier in the season before being designated for assignment. He ended up staying with the organization, finishing his season at Triple-A Scranton.
The JT Brubaker deal:
2B/SS Keiner Delgado – Delgado played 89 games for the Pirates’ Low-A affiliate in Bradenton, hitting .232/.318/.347 in 381 plate appearances with 25 stolen bases in 31 attempts. Another Rookie League cautionary tale. While in the DSL/FCL, Delgado walked 94 times while striking out only 59 times in 477 plate appearances. This year, in Low-A, he compiled 33 walks and 83 strikeouts.
Brubaker couldn’t get back on an MLB hill and pitched in only 8 minor-league contests. If the Yankees still feel he is viable, they have one more year of control. He will require a 40-man roster spot, however.
The Jazz Chisholm Jr. deal:
C/1B Agustin Ramirez – Ramirez hit 20 home runs in 87 games between Somerset/Scranton before this trade. After the deal, Ramirez played for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville. He hit .262/.358/.447 with 5 homers and 24 RBI in 39 games. While the Yankees split his time between catcher and first base, the Marlins used him only behind the plate.
2B/SS Jared Serna – The Marlins moved Serna to Double-A Pensacola immediately after the trade. He hit .266/.343/.390 with 2 home runs and 23 RBI in 175 plate appearances. That was enough for a late-season promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville, where he went 2-for-20 in 6 games.
IF Abrahan Ramirez – Every big trade typically has a lottery ticket. The trade with the Marlins occurred just as the FCL season was wrapping up. Hence, he is listed as “Not Yet Reported” on his MILB page. I wouldn’t read anything into that.
The Mark Leiter Jr. deal:
RHP Jack Neely – Neely pitched in 6 games for the Cubs, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits over 6 innings with a 7/2 K/BB. He has since been demoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he pitched to a 3.12 ERA in 8.2 IP with a 16/2 K/BB.
IF Ben Cowles – Last fall, the Yankees sent Cowles to the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .290/.405/.551 in 20 games. Building off that in 2024, Cowles put together a .295/.376/.472 season for Double-A Somerset before the trade. Before the deal, Cowles was placed on the injured list (obviously, that didn’t impact the Cubs’ interest) and remained there until September 9th. He appeared in only four games, going 1-for-13. He will once again participate in the Arizona Fall League.
Neely was arguably the Yankees’ top relief prospect at the time of the trade and Cowles could remind some of Rob Refsnyder, who continues to carve out a MLB career. Do I call this one a loss? No. Leiter has team control and Neely/Cowles haven’t established themselves. This is more of a “wait-and-see”.
The Enyel De Los Santos deal:
OF Brandon Lockridge – The 27-year-old Lockridge, the Yankees’ 5th-round pick in 2018, is on the Padres’ MLB roster. They are using him in a pinch-running role. In eight games, he is 1-for-5 with three runs scored and a stolen base. He might make their postseason roster in this role. As for De Los Santos, he was a failure for the Yankees. The White Sox picked him up and he owns a 4.20 ERA in 14.2 IP with a 13/8 K/BB.
The Yankees also picked up relief prospect Thomas Balboni Jr. in his trade.
Others:
RHP Mitch Spence – Oakland was smart in targeting Spence in the Rule 5 draft. In 34 games (23 starts), he owns a 4.35 ERA (4.20 FIP) over 147 IP with a 19.2% K, 7.0% BB, and 48.7% GB. Spence is why the Rule 5 exists – at most, his role with the Yankees was a place on the Scranton Shuttle.
RHP Matt Sauer – If the Royals make the playoffs and win the World Series, Sauer will get a ring. That said, he didn’t pitch well for the Royals and was returned to the Yankees. After a slow start, he pitched well down the stretch in a bullpen role for Somerset.
RHP Carson Coleman – A right shoulder injury wiped out his 2024 campaign after he missed the 2023 season. Being on the 60-day injured list all season allows the Rangers to retain him after selecting him in the Rule 5 draft. However, his career is at a crossroads. I hope he gets back healthy in 2025.
1B/3B Andres Chaparro – Lost to minor league free agency, Chaparro landed in Arizona. For their Triple-A squad in Reno, he hit .332/.403/.564 in 414 plate appearances. That caught the attention of the Washington Nationals, who acquired Chaparro at the trade deadline for reliever Dylan Floro. Floro hasn’t worked out for the Diamondbacks, but Chaparro was promoted to MLB. Thus far, he is hitting .215/.280/.413 with 12 doubles and four home runs. He hit his first MLB home run against the Yankees.
LHP Matt Krook – After purchasing him from the Yankees, Krook pitched in one MLB game for the Orioles this season. In 41 Triple-A games, he posted a 3.92 ERA in 43.2 innings before landing on the “Development List”.
UTIL Oliver Dunn – The Yankees’ 11th-round pick in 2019, Dunn played in 41 games for the division-winning Brewers before landing on the injured list. He hit .221/.282/.316 in 104 plate appearances with three stolen bases.
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. He is hitting .250/.250/.462 in 13 games with five doubles and a pair of home runs.
UTIL Mickey Gasper – Taken by the Red Sox in the minor league phase, the 28-year-old is 0-for-12 in ten MLB games. He was the Yankees’ 27th-round pick in 2018. While he has catching experience, the Red Sox have primarily used him at second base.
C/1B Josh Breaux – After the Yankees released him, he signed with the Phillies organization. Before landing on the IL, he played in 29 games for their Double-A/Triple-A affiliates, hitting four homers and driving in 20.
1B Dermis Garcia – After receiving a 39-game tryout with the 2022 Oakland Athletics, Garcia hasn’t sniffed MLB. This year, he spent his time playing for Washington’s Double-A affiliate in Harrisburg, hitting .182/.274/.332 with 14 homers in 108 games.
RHP Deivi Garcia – Garcia appeared in 14 games for the White Sox in March/April. He compiled a 7.07 ERA in 14 innings with a 15/11 K/BB. The White Sox designated him for assignment, but he went unclaimed. In 40 games for their Triple-A affiliate, he compiled a 6.18 ERA in 51 innings with a 62/27 K/BB.
RHP Michael Gomez – While others have made their MLB debuts, Gomez has not. The 28-year-old pitched to a 5.01 ERA in 55.2 IP for Tampa’s Triple-A affiliate in Durham.
3B Marcos Cabrera – Taken by the Pirates in the minor league phase, Cabrera was released by the organization on April 25th and hasn’t appeared anywhere else.