The New York Yankees have seen excellent improvement from franchise pitcher Gerrit Cole as he prepares to return to the mound after starting the season on the injured list with an elbow injury.
Even with Cole’s return, the organization may be looking to add pitching depth to help them reach the postseason. Even before Cole’s injury, the front office was looking to sign free agents Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, as well as trade for Dylan Cease.
The Yankees are expected to trade top-ranked prospect Everson Pereira in order to add pitching depth to their roster.
“The Yankees are deep in interesting — some might say overhyped — prospects who could be traded to improve the roster, most assuredly to find some pitching help,” Dave Schoenfield, an ESPN reporter, said in his “early MLB 2024 trade deadline preview.” “We will start with Pereira. He lost some of his luster after being called up last season, hitting.151 with no home runs in 93 at-bats. Overmatched, he’s returned to Triple-A, but he’s also behind Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones on the future outfield depth chart.
New York Yankees Prospect Everson Pereira Could Be a Power Outfield Bat in the Future
Pereira, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher with outstanding speed and arm strength, is currently ranked as the fifth-best talent in the Yankees’ farm system.
“Pereira originally projected as a potential plus hitter with average power, but his profile has flipped as he got stronger and started swinging for the fences,” according to his MLB.com scouting report. “The bat speed and loft in his right-handed stroke help create well above-average raw power and huge exit velocities, but his approach also leads to a lot of in-zone swing-and-misses and strikeouts.”
According to Schoenfield, Pereira struggled during a temporary call up to the major leagues last season. However, in 343 at bats in the High-A lower leagues last season, he slashed.300/.373/.548. And in 51 Triple-A at-bats this season, he has gone.216/.333/.490, with four home runs and nine RBIs.
Another MLB team with less power and outfield prospect depth than the Yankees may be more interested in Pereira’s potential.
The New York Yankees Might Flip Everson Pereira in a Trade to Acquire Jesus Luzardo
Schoenfield stated that the Yankees may be in the “mix” to trade for the Miami Marlins’ Jesus Luzardo as a starting pitching option, but that the Marlins may want Jones in exchange. Despite Cole’s unclear injury condition, the Yankees were loath to part with Jones in trades for frontline starters this offseason.
“The Yankees, while awaiting news on Gerrit Cole, have re-engaged with the Chicago White Sox and made a new proposal for ace Dylan Cease, but the new offer once again did not include prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones,” Bob Nightengale, a reporter for USA Today, said.
However, if the Yankees can persuade a team looking for a rotation-worthy starter that Pereira is a valuable asset to trade in exchange — with upside closer to his minor league performance than his big league debut — they may be able to keep their most prized outfield prospects while also significantly improving their pitching staff.
