By Rich Mancuso/Sports Editor
Four days and the complexion of teams will change with the non-waiver trade deadline. Sellers, buyers, and rumors is all you have to know and the Mets showed Thursday they will sell with Lucas Duda now with Tampa Bay and making his debut Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Where will the Yankees be after July 31st with a team that is going for it?
After the Brett Gardner walk-off home run Thursday night in the Bronx, the Yankees won for the sixth time in seven games they know they are in this to stay. Their quest is to obtain that elusive first baseman and add that frontline starter for the rotation and GM Brian Cashman is working around the clock.
And opposing GM’s know the Yankees are rich in prospects. If anything, there is that available player or two that Cashman can deal to get what he wants. The belief among the prospects down at Double-A Trenton is that progressive movement will continue and that is defined as there is room to swing a deal because at Triple-A Scranton the Yankees have the nucleus of talent that will get the next call.
So the next few days will be interesting. Reports are the Yankees seeking the help that can give them that nucleus of making that big run to October. Oakland and Texas are on the radar and the Athletics are willing to part with righthander Sonny Gray and Yonder Alonso. The latest rumor is that deal could be off the table as the A’s are seeking Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier.
And with the influx of young talent in the outfield the Yankees are not parting with Frazier, or some of the core players that will be a part of this promising future. They are here to win but not at that expense and at Trenton there is that availability of a player or two.
The latest scouting report from Trenton: First place in their division of the Eastern League, third in batting and pitching. Jorge Mateo is a prominent name in trade talks and interesting to note that last year the infielder at short and second was an untouchable. But the Yankees are stocked with a future infield and that includes Gleyber Torres their highly touted prospect who is recovering from Tommy John Surgery.
Here is a potential list of Yankees prospects that could be involved in a potential deals over the next few days that are active at Trenton:
Jorge Mateo Credit: Yankees.com
Jorge Mateo: 22-year-old shortstop, can play second base and in center. Very athletic and with speed with versatile with his defense. Has a quick bat and in reports is described as a disciplined hitter and is maturing with potential to be an All-Star. Scouts are comparing his style of play and tools to Javier Baez of the Cubs though not with the same power. He is that quality trade chip for the Yankees with Didi Gregorius at short and Torres at second base.
Thairo Estrada: 21-year-old shortstop: He does not have that premium power for a shortstop but is a good defender with a good arm who can also play second and is consistent. A contact hitter who goes to the gap with speed. Described as having plus instincts, is a team guy and has age on his side as Texas and Oakland have an interest as a trade chip.
Zack Littell: 21-year righthanded starter and physically similar to former Twins and Orioles pitcher Scott Erickson. He pitches to contact, throws strikes, has a good sinker with excellent command. His fastball paints the edges works the bottom of the strike zone. The changeup needs to be used more as a pitch and could be a starter and this is more reason why Littell would be put in a potential trade. Fastball has a plus sink of 88-94.90.
Domingo Acevedo: 23-year-old righthanded starter with a power arm and throws strikes and a similar look to Dellin Betances. Fastball averages 96, 92, 95. The issue is Acevedo rushes and is open that gives hitters a good and early look. He has a three pitch mix and throws too many curves and fastballs. Scouts saw him in the Futures game and he gets hit hard. So the word on Acevedo is a work in progress and needs more work on the location.
Yefry Ramirez: 23-year-old righthanded starter who can also come out of the pen. He mixes pitches and competes with good stuff. Curveball has quality as the out pitch and the slider needs improvement. Ramirez needs progress and falling off with his delivery hits his command and angles. Fastball at 90, 94, 92.
Cody Carroll: 24-year-old righthander with a power arm and throws downhill. Has command issues that will put him back as he makes progress. Described as aggressive but tends to overthrow the fastball. He can be dominant and fastball is averaging 96.99,97.
Daniel Camarena: 24-year old lefthanded starter who can pitch and compete. Fastball is short and needs to cut down his ratio of walks. Has a great ability to mix and use four pitches Described with a small margin of error and pitches to contact without a quality out pitch with fastball at 88,91, 90.
Brody Koerner: 23-year old righthanded starter. An advanced college pitcher and knows how to pitch. Fastball is 89,93, 91 and secondary pitches are below average and lacks an out pitch.
Stay tuned. The deadline is near and could be interesting.
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