These three trade targets would be much better options for the New York Yankees in left field than Aaron Hicks.
Open up a phone book at your grandparents’ house, point to a name, and you will probably land on a more preferred choice for the New York Yankees in left field than Aaron Hicks. The team plans to go forward with him as their starting left fielder next year.
Fans remain hopeful Brian Cashman is wearing a poker face and has something else planned. The Yankees can’t possibly believe he is their best choice. When he’s not injured, he’s barely productive. It’s time to cut bait and move on.
Looking outside of the Yankees organization, there are some better options out there for them to consider. While costly to varying degrees, these three outfielders would fit in well for the Yankees and give them an improvement over Hicks.
1) Bryan Reynolds is the most logical Yankees upgrade for left field
Yankees fans will not stop with the Bryan Reynolds talk until he becomes completely unavailable to them. The Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder would be a blockbuster addition for them. He has already requested a trade from Pittsburgh. The only thing left to do is get the two sides to talk and cut a deal.
The Pirates roster is coming along nicely with young stars such as Ke’Bryan Hayes and ONeill Cruz on the infield. A trade for Reynolds will need to give the Pirates at least one pitcher and bat they can hope to have on the major league roster within the next two seasons. Unfortunately, New York doesn’t have too many notable young arms. Maybe the already MLB-experienced Luis Gil is it.
Reynolds doesn’t reach free agency until after the 2025 season. He has shown he’s worth a prospect haul that will put a dent in the farm system. He’d be the dream addition to the Yankees roster. If unable to acquire him, there are two other players to take a look at.
2) Eloy Jimenez is worth a phone call from the Yankees
Andrew Benintendi signed with the Chicago White Sox this offseason and should be their starting left fielder. What does it mean for Eloy Jimenez, the 26-year-old they’ve been waiting to reach stardom?
Jimenez probably becomes the DH for the White Sox. He is not a particularly good fielder. He has also dealt with a bunch of injuries since making his MLB debut in 2019.
Nonetheless, the Yankees would be adding a young player with some major potential. The White Sox are a logical trade partner for the Yankees due in part to their need at second base over in Chicago. Gleyber Torres feels like a solution for the White Sox up the middle. A trade between the two clubs would probably require at least one more piece from each side. Primarily, the Yankees find a left fielder and the White Sox add a second baseman.
A player like Jimenez becoming available in a trade is something the Yankees should jump on. Even if the defense isn’t great, they shouldn’t have high expectations for Hicks with the glove anyway.
The simplest solution to getting over any concerns the team may have about Jimenez playing defense is to carry a replacement on their bench. Between Harrison Bader in center field and Aaron Judge in right field, they should be fine fielding balls that make it beyond the infield dirt.
3) Daulton Varsho is someone the Yankees can use in a variety of ways
The Arizona Diamondbacks are known to have an interest in shopping one of their many left-handed hitting outfielders. Many teams have already shown interest in them. Jake McCarthy seems too good and Corbin Carroll has way too much control left. Both would cost the Yankees too much in a trade. Daulton Varsho, on the other hand, is a more realistic fit.
Varsho is not your typical big-league player. He is a catcher who also plays the outfield. Center field is one of the positions he patrols for the Diamondbacks. He fits the mold of the Yankees wanting depth and versatility. A trade for him could go many different ways.
Varsho’s ceiling might not be quite where Jimenez’s reaches or what Reynolds has already produced. Nonetheless, we cannot ignore his versatility. He swatted 27 home runs and stole 16 bases for Arizona last year. He does many things well. Landing on the Yankees, with his left-handed bat, can only benefit him further.
The Diamondbacks have enough needs where the Yankees can certainly toss a couple of ideas their way. Their shortstop-rich farm system should catch the eye of the Diamondbacks. Even if their number three prospect Jordan Lawlar plays the position, it couldn’t hurt to add more.
Trading for Varsho seems like it could turn into a sneaky-good one for the Yankees. They get themselves a starting left fielder who can also suit up behind the plate every once in a while. Sometimes the best moves aren’t the flashiest. Varsho is hardly flashy yet very capable of being an improvement over Hicks.