3 players the Yankees can trade before Opening Day

By Tim Boyle | Mar 11, 2023

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #12 of the New York Yankees fields a ground out by Amed Rosario #1 of the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in game two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 14, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FL – FEBRUARY 26: The New York Yankees stand for the national anthem before a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) /

These three members of the New York Yankees could get traded before Opening Day.

Injuries are beginning to pile up for the New York Yankees. The pitching staff will meet their 2023 insurance deductible before Opening Day. Center fielder Harrison Bader’s health is also questionable for Opening Day.

Does New York wait it out or give us one of those surprising two-minutes-to-midnight trades right before Opening Day?

Plucking from a surplus of infield talent, the Yankees have a few things they can do to improve the rest of the roster before the season begins. From big to small, these three Yankees players could be traded before the season begins.

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1) Why the Yankees need to consider trading Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Isiah Kiner-Falefa should be like one of those classic college basketball players from the early 2000s: one-and-done. His place within the organization has faded. With Oswald Peraza making less money on the roster and appearing to be at least equal to what IKF can give them, why keep around the rather expensive infielder whose best attribute is his glove?

Kiner-Falefa was never meant to be the long-term answer for the Yankees at shortstop. He was the face wrestler who won the title from a heel only for another one of the bad guys to have a chance to steal it away from him. Peraza and Anthony Volpe may not be heel wrestlers, but they’re certainly far more desirable candidates to play a whole bunch of innings for the Yankees this year.

Having seen what IKF can offer them up close last year, it’s probably best to see what they can get in return for him. A bullpen arm or some better outfield depth is what they should aim to acquire.

Every time a shortstop on another team rounds second and grabs his hamstring, Brian Cashman needs to send a text over to the GM, just to check in.

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