Yankees trade scenarios: Bowden evaluates your proposals, answers deadline questions (2024)

What will the Yankees do at the trade deadline? There’s no shortage of opinions and questions. We’ve officially entered the final week leading into the July 30 deadline, so Jim Bowden opened the mailbag for Yankees questions and trade proposals from our subscribers. Let’s get right to them.

Note: Questions have been edited for clarity and length.

How should the Yankees upgrade at the deadline?

How would you construct a Yankees roster if you could make one trade, get everybody back from the injured list and could pull up some minor-league talent? — John O.

My one trade would be to land Garrett Crochet from the White Sox. I would put him in the bullpen for August and begin ramping him back up on Sept. 10, building his innings so he can start in the postseason. Teams win championships with starting pitching, and by acquiring Crochet, the Yankees would also prevent the Orioles, Astros and Rangers from trading for him. I’d also like to upgrade at third base and would target Ryan McMahon of the Rockies, but if I only get one deadline deal to upgrade the Yankees, it would be for the best starting pitcher who will be traded (in all likelihood). If a Crochet deal didn’t work for some reason, then the other deal I’d want to make would be getting Tanner Scott, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jake Burger from the Marlins. Chisholm would play second, Burger would play third and Scott would share closing duties with Clay Holmes.

Crochet’s market is robust as teams such as the Orioles, Dodgers, Astros, Phillies and Braves, among others, have exchanged texts with White Sox general manager Chris Getz. It’s clear the White Sox are looking for a franchise-changing package in return. For the Yankees to land Crochet, who is under team control through 2026, they’d have to be willing to put together a prospect package along the lines of Jasson Dominguez, Roderick Arias, Chase Hampton and George Lombard Jr. (Appreciate the question, John. With so many variables, I will leave my answer at that, focusing on the one trade I would make.)

What are the Yankees’ options for adding a starting pitcher at the deadline? — Jerry G.

The starting pitchers who are most likely to be traded at the deadline are Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde, Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, Cal Quantrill, Austin Gomber and Chris Bassitt. I think the Yankees are more likely to tradefor a corner infielder and reliever than a starter, but I could be wrong.

In your , you mentioned the Reds could dangle Jonathan India at the deadline. What kind of package would it take from the Yankees to land him? — Mike L.

The Reds need to make room for the return of second baseman Matt McLain and they are concerned about India’s rising future salaries — he’ll make at least $5 million next year and is arbitration-eligible in 2026 — so dealing him makes sense. They’d be looking for the best prospects they can get back in return, with a preference for a center fielder or pitcher.

It seems no contender is weaker at any position than the Yankees are at third base with their unfathomable sub-.600 OPS. Who is the best third baseman available via trade and what would a realistic price tag be for the Yankees? — Larry V.

There are not many third basem*n available this deadline. But if I’m the Yankees, I would pursue Ryan McMahon of the Rockies and Isaac Paredes of the Rays as my main targets. I would also consider the Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette, despite his down year and calf injury, and move him to third base. I might even consider Jake Burger of the Marlins because of his power. Those types of players would cost the Yankees some of their top-notch prospects.

Which Yankees prospects would you deem the most untouchable this trade deadline? I think I can live with all of them being on the table except Jasson Domínguez, Roderick Arias and Agustin Ramirez. — Jeremiah G.

The Yankees don’t want to move outfielders Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, infielders Roderick Arias and George Lombard Jr., and pitcher Chase Hampton, who looked really good in his last rehab start. I think they would part with the power bats of Agustin Ramirez and Everson Pereira if the right trade proposal came their way.

Should the Yankees call some guys up (for example, Jorbit Vivas) to try to fill spots before trading to fill them? — Abs230

It depends on what players they can get in trades. If they can acquire players like Ryan McMahon, Isaac Paredes or Jazz Chisholm Jr., they should go down that path because Vivas and some of their other infield prospects will never be as good as them.

So many teams are still in the hunt. Selling teams are going to ask for a ton in return for anybody decent. The Yankees would be better off making small, affordable moves and to stop digging the hole deeper. That means being satisfied with finishing 2024 with a winning record and a playoff berth (and likely a quick exit) and building for 2025/2026. In the offseason, sign Juan Soto and flush as much of the riffraff as possible. The hole is too deep to fill in this year. Thoughts? — Christopher B.

I agree that I wouldn’t overpay in prospect packages for the short term. If solid baseball trades can be made to enhance the Yankees’ chances of winning this year and going forward, they should make them. Trading for more older veterans doesn’t make sense to me. But a lot of players who could be available are young, in their primes and would be long-term moves rather than rentals. Those types of players, like Garrett Crochet, Isaac Paredes, Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Ryan McMahon, would be interesting for the Yankees.

Trade proposals

Yankees get: Jonathan India
Reds get: Everson Pereira, Will Warren, Carlos Lagrange

— Aaron E.

If the Yankees include Trent Grisham and pay his salary, the deal works for both sides. The Reds get a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder in Grisham who helps them now, plus a power bat in Pereira with a questionable hit tool that should still play in the “Great American Small Park” no matter how much he hits, and two solid mid-level pitching prospects (Warren and Lagrange). The Reds would probably need to throw someone else into the deal to close it, but I like where you’re coming from, Aaron.

Yankees get: Jack Flaherty
Tigers get: Zach Messinger, Ben Cowles, Elijah Dunham

— Kumar K.

I think Flaherty will end up being the best “value” starting pitching trade in this market as he could be a huge difference-maker. His comeback season is real. If I’m the Tigers, I’m looking for quality over quantity in a Flaherty swap because it’s a seller’s market and someone is going to trade a top-five prospect for him, which would be better than your package of three top-30 prospects.

Yankees get: Tanner Scott
Marlins get: Everson Pereira, Roderick Arias

— Erica W.

That is a fair deal for both sides. I think we’ll find when Scott is traded in the coming week that his value will be similar to your proposal.

Yankees get: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tanner Scott, Ryan Weathers
Marlins get: Gleyber Torres, Nestor Cortes, Oswald Peraza, Everson Pereira

— Henry R.

The Marlins have no interest in absorbing the contracts of Torres or Cortes. They view Peraza and Pereira as extra players, not regulars. So they would have zero interest in this trade idea. In response, they would instead ask for either Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones plus Chase Hampton and Roderick Arias or George Lombard Jr. (basically, some combination of three from that group of five prospects), which the Yankees would probably turn down, but that’s the only way this type of deal gets consummated.

Yankees get: Carlos Estévez, Luis Rengifo
Angels get: Kyle Carr, Tyler Hardman, Danny Watson, Ron Marinaccio

— Kumar K.

There you go. Makes sense for both teams.

Yankees get: Matt Chapman, Sean Hjelle
Giants get: Agustin Ramirez, Zach Messinger, Jace Avina

— Aaron E.

The Yankees should pop champagne if they can make that deal. The Giants front office should prepare for some firings if they make it.

Yankees get: Lamonte Wade Jr.
Giants get: Everson Pereira, Luis Serna

— Aaron E.

Another trade that works for me on the Yankees’ side but not the Giants’. I’m not sure how much Pereira is going to hit, which means you have to question how much his power will play in games. I like Serna as a major-league utility player. This is not enough for the Giants.

Yankees get: Jesse Winker
Pirates get: Alex Verdugo
Nationals get: Nestor Cortes and a Pirates prospect

— Matthew S.

Um, wow. The Pirates get a hitter who would bring an edge to their clubhouse, the Yankees get a lesser player in Winker and the Nationals get not only a legitimate veteran starter, but also a prospect from the Pirates. Bottom line: The Yankees would lose this trade badly, the Nationals would win it in a ridiculous fashion and the Pirates would get better.

Yankees get: Michael Busch (develop him at third base), Jameson Taillon
Cubs get: Spencer Jones, Everson Pereira, Jorbit Vivas

— Matthew S.

I’m opposed to putting Jones in this deal. How about Pereira, Vivas, Oswaldo Cabrera and Carlos Lagrange for Taillon and Busch?

More MLB trade deadline coverage

(Top photo of Garrett Crochet: Freddie Beckwith / Cal Sport Media via Associated Press)

Jim Bowden , a national writer for The Athletic MLB, was formerly the Sr. VP and general manager for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals for a combined 16 years, including being named the 1999 MLB Executive of the Year by Baseball America. He is the lead MLB Analyst and Insider for CBS Sports-HQ and a regular talk-show host on SiriusXM for the MLB Network and Fantasy channels. Follow him on twitter: @JimBowdenGM Follow Jim on Twitter @JimBowdenGM