5 trades the Yankees can make during the Winter Meetings

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 29: Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman surrounded by reporters on the field before the MLB season-opener game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON., Canada March 29, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ST PETERSBURG, FL – AUGUST 03: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox is congratulated after hitting a two run home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on August 3, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

2. Yankees deal for Jose Abreu

The Yankees front office appears perfectly content to head into the 2019 season with Greg Bird and Luke Voit battling it out for the starting job at first base. We’re calling Cashman’s bluff here. We believe making a solid upgrade at the position is something the Yankees are very interested in doing.

There are lots of potential targets who could do that for New York, but Jose Abreu might be the option with the best combination of high ceiling and solid track record. He also happens to be in the last year of his contract with the White Sox. It’s worth noting that he struggled a little in 2018, so the Yankees would be betting on a bounce back season for Abreu if they made this deal.

The relative abundance of decent first baseman available on the market would push the price down for the Yankees. In this proposal, they give up on three guys who’ve been relatively disappointing during their time in pinstripes. Gray’s struggles are well documented. Clint Frazier is a serious health risk. Greg Bird would be redundant after acquiring Abreu.

This may seem like an overpay to some Yankees fans, but it frees up salary and some valuable spots on the 40-man roster. Abreu is the best player in this deal by a pretty fair margin. It would represent a good consolidation of talent by Cashman and his staff.

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