IBC

Reds traded Oswald Peraza, Ben 23-Williamson to Yankees for Jose 16-Soriano, Trey 21-Sweeney

Sweeney was a nice value pickup in a trade who's a plus shortstop but still major questions with the bat. Jose Soriano is still young and a very solid mid-rotation/back-end starter who continues to find ways to get MLB hitters out.

Peraza was a nice Yankee pickup for me. He was a top 100 prospect who has been blocked in his natural position (ss) by Volpe, but has made his way as a Yankee roster piece playing all across the dirt. He still has very real pop in his bat, and will be interesting to see if he can take advantage of the Chisholm injury with more ab's. The bigger get for me was Williamson, though. The '23 draftee is already the Mariners starting 3b and one of the highest rated MiLB 3b's the sim has ever seen defensively. He's holding his own at the MLB level and still has life in his bat to grow into. His floor is a few win 3b on glove alone, anything with the bat just makes him that much more valuable.

Yankees traded Curtis Mead, Andrew Misiaszek to Phillies for Billy 24-Amick, Dante 24-Nori

Misiaszek is a pseudo-prospect reliever who is getting torched at AAA, but has a solid SIM. Curtis Mead is a hitting prospect who is not doing a very good job of hitting, but, you guessed it, has a solid SIM.

Amick has come out like a house on fire this year, torching A+ before he got hurt. He really needs to tap into the power he was developing in college and stay at 3b, but there's a lot of belief he can do both of those. Nori was a hyper athletic 1st rounder with good bloodlines. His biggest issue is that the words 'older, cold weather prep prospect' stacked together don't usually end well. The developmental curve will be rocky, but the talent is definitely there.

Yankees traded Ryan Mountcastle to Reds for Jesus 0-Rodriguez

Ryan Mountcastle exploded onto the scene in 2020 and has steadily got worse since. The SIM is still a big fan, and he'll be very helpful for Ken in the short run. The bat is still in there somewhere and he's just entered his physical prime...and the Orioles keep running him out there...so there's always hope.

Jesus Rodriguez probably won't make an all-star team, but he's really fun. He can pick it behind the dish, and spends his off-the-dish nights circling around the infield with some outfield tossed in. He's playable in all those places, but a Gold Glove also is not in his future. He also won't ever win a home run title. But what Rodriguez can do is hit. Really hit. His career milb slash if .312/.397/.466 and essentially walks as much as he strikes out. While AA has given him a couple hiccups, no other level, including AAA, has come close to testing him. He probably needs to show a bit more at AAA and Escarra doing well in the backup role won't help him find time at Yankee Stadium, but if 2b/3b remain a problem for the Yankees, he may find his way there sooner than later.

Astros traded Jo Adell, JR 22-Ritchie, Thayron Liranzo, Grant 23-Taylor to Yankees for Agustin Ramirez

This will be an easy trade to lose. Ramirez may never be the world's best defender, but the dude can hit. He got the call to the show after 19 games in AAA this year and raked at the start. He's hit a slump recently, but he's a potential 30 homer legit catcher.

Thayron Liranzo was the big get out of the deal. He's got a similar profile to Ramirez and about a year behind...and a bit less likely to be a c long-term. He has a massive raw, discerning eye, and lethal arm...he just has a lot of his profile to clean up and, at just 21, the time to do it. Jo Adell is another player I've liked (and acquired multiple times). 2025 has been the first season he's received consistent MLB at-bats, and after a miserable March & April, he's hovered around a .900 ops with 7 homers in 81 ab's...which is a 40 homer pace over a full season. He's probably not that, but if he can play across the outfield, crush lefties and be usable for righties, he's a welcome addition to the lineup.

On the arms side, JR Ritchie is someone I've tracked (and asked about) for a while. His comeback from 2023 TJ has been pretty incredible. After a brief recovery in rookie ball last year, he decimated A last year before getting a taste of A+ at the end of the season. He dominated in his return to A+ this year and has continued to pitch well in his promotion to AA. His velocity is back up a tick, and combines well with a good breaker and a changeup he developed while recovering from TJ. He's got a mid-rotation ceiling...unless the fastball gets back to his amateur days. If it does, he could pitch near the top. Grant Taylor has some of the best stuff in the MiLB. He's an absolutely dominant arm with four plus pitches...but a long history of injury issues, too. If he can stay on the mound and stretch himself out, he could be one of the best arms in the game...but that's a massive 'if'.

Yankees traded Grant 23-Taylor to Padres for Clarke Schmidt

Genuinely one of the most talented arms in the minors, Taylor has worked his way back from TJ with his stuff intact and the results at AA following. The challenge, for me, was that he started the year with multi-inning work and has moved to traditional relieving. That seems to be his path to MLB now...and while he has the arsenal to start, his arm issues and violent delivery will most likely keep him there permanently.

For those asking, no, getting Schmidt is not a change in philosophy for me. He's just one of my favorite Yankees (favorite pitcher for sure) and the opportunity to get him for a closer (with upside) was a fair exchange for me. He's a solid mid-rotation starter who may be 29, but doesn't have a ton of mileage on his arm.

Yankees traded Jeral 0-Perez, Jesus 0-Rodriguez, Zach 23-Thornton to Padres for Hunter Goodman

Just picked up Jesus Rodriguez but Jim wanted a catcher back who could SIM, so he had to be sacrificed. He's hit the crap out of the ball at every level and looks ready for a call-up if Escarra continues to struggle for the Yankees. Zach Thornton just got called up to AA and is replicating his HA success. People don't think a ton of his stuff, but his success has really turned people's heads this year with a 1.53 era & 0.70 whip in HA/AA. Jeral Perez is the one I think I'll regret the most in this one, though. Dude has pop. 28 ebh's in 230 ab's as a 20-year old in HA. The k's are the issue...but that's true of a lot of successful hitters in the MLB...and Perez' aren't awful.

I've liked Hunter Goodman for a while. He's torn up MiLB pitching for a while...and somehow he's still just 25. He struggled in his first full MLB run last year, but he's been very good on a very bad team while finally getting consistent ab's. He provides much needed pop for my lineup and I was able to get him dealing from positions of strength.

Rays traded Brandon 23-Winokur to Yankees for Michael Lorenzen

Lorenzen is a bit off my timeline, but he was going to stay on my roster as a solid innings eater who tends to overperform his SIM unless I got a solid prospect in return...

...and Winokur is a solid prospect. He was someone I tried to trade up for in the 2023 draft and someone I've asked Matt about a few times. Let's get the bad out of the way first. He's almost assuredly not a SS and he strikes out WAY too much. All that said, he's one of, if not THE best athlete in all of baseball. He's tall, strong, fast, and when he connects he hits it really hard. Despite being young, he's competed at every level he's played and you will want to have him on your squad if it all comes together. It just probably won't.

Yankees traded John Means, Jesus Baez, Ryan Clifford, Davis Schneider, Christian Scott, Luis Guerrero, Jakob 24-Christian, Khadim 24-Diaw to Mets for Michael Tonkin, Joe Jimenez, Jamie Westbrook, Daysbel Hernandez, Jett Williams, Grant Hartwig, Owen 24-Hall

Woof. I gave up a lot. Means is coming back from TJ soon but is a #2/#3 starter when healthy. Schneider is back to holding his own at the MLB level and the SIM is a fan. Baez hit some top 100 lists this past off-season and has held his own at A+...and still has a ton of talent. Scott also hit top 100 lists last year before TJ. Clifford is more highly thought of as a fantasy dynasty prospect than an actual prospect, but that's a good thing in this format. Guerrero is pitching well for the Sox after some struggles at AAA. Christian and Diaw are both solid '24's with some limited ceilings.

Clearly the get for me is Jett. He gets better and better and better the more he moves up the levels. At worst he's a dynamic table setter who'll get on base. At best the power continues to develop and he's Altuve-esque. Either way, he'll fit nicely in my young lineup moving forward. Hall is a prospect that I'm excited to have two years to sit on. He has some incredible stuff, just can't stay healthy. He's on a great team from a developmental standpoint, so long as he can get the IP's he needs. Jimenez is a closer who's out for this season, and should have solid trade value in the off-season. Daysbel is another dynamic young arm who is excellent fits my timeline. Tonkin is another excellent reliever who should find some love closer to the deadline.

Pretty clear overpay, but love how Jett will fit into a lineup including Goodman, Kayfus, Morgan, Volpe, Dominguez, Adell, Montes and Robles.

Yankees wrote:
> [b]Yankees traded John Means, Jesus Baez, Ryan Clifford, Davis Schneider,
> Christian Scott, Luis Guerrero, Jakob 24-Christian, Khadim 24-Diaw to Mets
> for Michael Tonkin, Joe Jimenez, Jamie Westbrook, Daysbel Hernandez, Jett
> Williams, Grant Hartwig, Owen 24-Hall[/b]
>
> Woof. I gave up a lot. Means is coming back from TJ soon but is a #2/#3
> starter when healthy. Schneider is back to holding his own at the MLB
> level and the SIM is a fan. Baez hit some top 100 lists this past
> off-season and has held his own at A+...and still has a ton of talent.
> Scott also hit top 100 lists last year before TJ. Clifford is more highly
> thought of as a fantasy dynasty prospect than an actual prospect, but
> that's a good thing in this format. Guerrero is pitching well for the Sox
> after some struggles at AAA. Christian and Diaw are both solid '24's with
> some limited ceilings.
>
> Clearly the get for me is Jett. He gets better and better and better the
> more he moves up the levels. At worst he's a dynamic table setter who'll
> get on base. At best the power continues to develop and he's Altuve-esque.
> Either way, he'll fit nicely in my young lineup moving forward. Hall is a
> prospect that I'm excited to have two years to sit on. He has some
> incredible stuff, just can't stay healthy. He's on a great team from a
> developmental standpoint, so long as he can get the IP's he needs. Jimenez
> is a closer who's out for this season, and should have solid trade value in
> the off-season. Daysbel is another dynamic young arm who is excellent fits
> my timeline. Tonkin is another excellent reliever who should find some
> love closer to the deadline.
>
> Pretty clear overpay, but love how Jett will fit into a lineup including
> Goodman, Kayfus, Morgan, Volpe, Dominguez, Adell, Montes and Robles.

Jett is one of the few prospects in which I wake each morning and check on, especially so since he is in the Mets org. Z has asked about Jett a few times and caught me at the right time, and didn't hurt that he had additional Met's prospects to dangle. In the end, my roster has much more filler than killer, so this deal offered me an opportunity to add more depth and youth.

Yankees traded Thayron Liranzo to Marlins for Brooks Lee

Liranzo is a really good prospect. He's almost a consensus top 100 and has very, very big power. He's hit a hiccup at AA and he's almost certainly not a catcher, but he's very young. He's most likely a 30-homer 1b, but the idea that he could be a 30-homer catcher is tantalizing.

Lee was a consensus top 50 prospect...top 20 in some places...who has dominated every MiLB level and has started to cement himself in the Twins' lineup. He's an excellent contact hitter with burgeoning power who can play 2b, ss, & 3b. With a solid set of catchers & catching prospects, Liranzo was a bit more expendable and Lee fills a need in the squad.

Yankees traded Jaden Hill to Marlins for Blake 24-Burke

Jaden Hill is quite fun. He walks a bunch and he has a tough time staying on the mound at times, but boy does he strike a ton of people out. He's already had a couple tastes of the MLB and assume next year he'll be up menacing hitters full time.

Burke had a down junior season at Tennessee before he came back with a vengeance as a junior, pushing himself into the late first round. As a pro, he's done nothing but hit in HA, just without a lot of the power that saw him hit 50 homers in 3 years in college. He's a good 1b, but it's a tough profile if he's 1b only..but for now, he's raking and he can be on the roster for a while.

BlueJays traded Michael Busch, Josh H. Smith to Yankees for Yanquiel Fernandez, Michael 23-Forret, C.J. Kayfus

Kayfus was a very difficult person to move. I've watched him grow from a fun prospect to a legitimate top-50ish prospect all the way to AAA this year. The guy can really hit, and, most impressively, he's added power in AAA without sacrificing average or significantly upping his K's. The biggest test will be if the power holds when he gest the call. Manzardo creates a big challenge to MLB playing time, but I think the bat will find its way. Yanquiel just got the call to MLB and got his first hit last night. After a tough start, he was tremendous at AAA this year. Oddly, his MLB issue may be making too much contact, resulting in a lot of weak outs. He sorted that in his second run at AAA, so he's shown the ability to adapt. Forret has also been phenomenal at HA this year and has real stuff. Biggest challenge is staying on the mound and seeing how his stuff works as a full-time starter.

Busch has been nothing short of outstanding this year, with the 7th best ops in MLB & 7th best adjusted ops+. He was an even more highly rated prospect than Kayfus and is clearly making good. He got a very good zips last year, so is positioning himself to be a real force in my lineup for a long time. Smith is doing similarly. He can play 7 positions and he's a very patient and solid hitter. He got a very good SIM this year and is a player I can put in a lot of spots for the rest of this year and moving forward.

Royals traded Angel Genao, Kyle Manzardo to Yankees for Michael Busch, Daysbel Hernandez, Billy 24-Amick

Amick is built like a linebacker and has hit for solid average so far and is a '24. He really has to find the power to unlock his game, but there's definitely a player here. Daysbel made a quick return from injury and is back to looking like a solid setup arm. The get here is clearly Busch, though. As I mentioned when I got him, the dude can flat out hit.

I'm really happy with the return here. Genao is a consensus top 50 (some top 30) prospect who has come back from injury and jumped to AA and been his usual excellent self. Even if the power never comes, he'll be a dynamic up the middle player at the top of the lineup, but if the power develops to 20-homers per season, he's an all-star. Manzardo was creeping toward the top of top 100 lists when he was called up to the show late last season. The pro results have been mixed (mostly not great), but the skill set is there. He needed a season to adjust to AAA and he still doesn't even have 450 MLB plate appearances yet. I'm still convinced there's a 35-homer, middle of the order monster here.

Rays traded Noelvi Marte, Carlos 21-Lagrange, Eduardo 22-Quintero, Khal 24-Stephen to Yankees for Jo Adell, Hunter Goodman, Kyle Manzardo

Really enjoyed the process of picking up and watching Adell & Goodman especially, and Matt really has done a great job of roster building. Both have been wonderful at the MLB level so far this year and are young enough to impact Matt's lineups for years. Adell has already hit 19 homers and had some bad luck with his batted ball data, but he's not a great outfielder and has historically had issues with swing and miss (better this year). Goodman is not a great catcher and doesn't really want to walk, but he's shaved his (high) strikeout rate and that has led to some more consistency with his average and getting to his power. Manzardo was racing up prospect lists before a small speed bump at AAA and now some real struggles at the MLB level. He still has a strong ISO, but he's got to impact the ball more consistently to get back to his middle of the order potential.

Look, there's no doubt Marte was poor last year, but he had some pretty insane bad batted ball luck in his first full run at the MLB level. As a former top 25 prospect, he's come back strongly this season at both AAA and MLB...and still hasn't been incredibly lucky. There's a real lack of 3b quality around MLB & MiLB, so getting one of the top young players at that position was important to me in this deal. Quintero was the second crucial component for me to get back. He jumped on people's radar with a solid performance at rookie ball last year before holding his own in A ball as an 18-year old. Back in A ball this season, he has flown up prospect lists and squarely on to top 100 charts. He has excellent bat to ball skills, he's growing into his power, and really can play CF...and he's still incredibly young for his level and in a terrific developmental situation with the Dodgers. He's one of my favorite prospects who I've been asking for for months. Pumped to have him in the fold.

Lagrange and Stephen were also important to bring on board as well for a similar reason - killer stuff. Lagrange hits triple digits with solid secondaries. His command is truly his Achilles heel...both in terms of walks and moments where he's a little too hittable. Yankees have done a decent job developing pitching prospects and he'll have all the leash in the world as a starter. Stephen doesn't have the overpowering heat that Lagrange has, but he has incredible stuff and has been outstanding across two levels this season. Everything moves and really does a tremendous job inducing weak contact and poor swings. Given he's not overpowering, he'll need either his slider or curve to take a step forward to reach his #2 starter upside...but he's off to a great start this season.

Yankees traded Joe Jimenez, Josh H. Smith to Rangers for Justin Martinez, Colson Montgomery

Josh Smith is probably going to win another utility Silver Slugger this year. He plays just about every position, gets on base, and runs into some power. He's an awesome baseball player. Speaking of awesome baseball players, Joe Jimenez is an awesome reliever and he will be back in August given no setbacks. He was an important pickup for me in the Jett Williams deal and he'll be way more help to other Brett now and going forward.

Coming back to New York is a lot of risk, but I'm a big fan. Justin Martinez was one of the most dynamic, young relievers in baseball last year and was closing games for Arizona this year before TJ hit. He'll most likely miss all of 2026, but he's still young and will hopefully be back closing games when I'm ready to start contending. The bigger dice roll is Colson Montgomery. Candidly, he's from the hometown of a friend here in Katy who pushed me to go for him, but he's clearly an insane talent. He was a top 10 prospect going into 2024 and was still a top 40 prospect heading into 2025 off the heels of a difficult 2024 season. He has been largely terrible this year (including going to the complex for a week), but has had two recent incredible hot stretches that saw him make his MLB debut. At the end of the day he just strikes out too much. If he can make any level of consistent contact, he'll be a dynamic, everyday, all-star SS...he just probably won't...but I'll roll the dice.

Cardinals traded Jordan Beck, Eduardo 22-Tait, Theo 24-Gillen, Cardinals Draft Pick 5 to Yankees for Mike Boeve, Yankees Draft Pick 1

Mike Boeve had an incredible debut MiLB season in 2023 and has held his own in AA in 2025. To reach his potential as a starting 3b he's got to tap into more power...and he's a pretty big dude, so there's some hope. The first round pick will probably fall between #2-4 in the draft. There are a lot of good starting pitching prospects and high school ss's at the top of the draft, two positions I wasn't excited about...but whoever JP selects will immediately be the top prospect in the trade.

Jordan Beck has done nothing but hit since he landed with the Rockies in the 2024 draft outside of his first run at the MLB last season. He's righted the ship this season and held his own in the middle of the lineup. He's fully a LF and should be an above average hitter. He's good. Eduardo Tait has flown up prospect lists this season and was the first 18 year old to hit double digits in full season ball. He has good bat to ball and massive power, but he's an 18-year old catching prospect so there's a looooooooooooooong way to go. Theo Gillen is also speeding up prospect charts. He's becoming an excellent centerfielder who gets on base, steals bases, and has developing power. The hit tool and k rate need to stay in check, but as another teenager in full season ball he's way ahead of schedule.

Yankees traded Luis Gil, Colson Montgomery to Padres for Colt 23-Emerson, Cam Schlittler

Colson Montgomery has tied for the most homers in baseball since the ASB. It's a really awesome story after a difficult year for an insanely talented prospect. I'm sure pitchers will adjust...and it will be on Montgomery to adjust back...but the talent is absolutely there. Luis Gil was the ROY last year and started this one with a lat strain. The electric stuff is still there, he's still young, and he's got a good SIM. He needs to stay on the field to build on last year, but he's a great arm.

As much as I was enjoying Montgomery, with Volpe, I did not need two highly talented shortstops who strike out too much when they aren't hitting home runs. While Emerson has developing power, he's a great athlete with a terrific hit tool and gets on base. He's one of the top prospects in the game, but it will certainly take a hit if he has to move off short. Schlittler is a prospect with huge stuff who has busted on to top 100 lists and into the Yankees rotation. Definite similarities to Gil, just a little younger and without the SIM.

Yankees traded Victor Robles to Angels for Angels Draft Pick 1

Marlins traded Marlins Draft Pick 1, Marlins Draft Pick 3, Pirates Draft Pick 1 to Yankees for Angel Genao, Yankees Draft Pick 3

Yankees traded Landen Roupp, Cardinals Draft Pick 5 to Rays for Chase 24-Harlan, Astros Draft Pick 2

Lumping these together as they were pretty much dominoes. Robles is a terrific SIM player who's about to make his MLB comeback if he can stop throwing bats at pitchers. Roupp is firmly pitching himself into #3/#4 arm status and already has a decent SIM. Genao is an excellent prospect having a tougher year, but is a bit superfluous on my squad with Volpe, Emerson, Williams, & Durbin.

Harlan is the one human I picked up in the deal. Even though he was injured, he produced some of the best exit velos at the MLB combine and has been excellent across two levels in 2025. He's a true 3b who hasn't fully tapped into his power yet. He'll be fun to dream on. Otherwise I snagged 3 1st's in the process which will give me good flexibility moving into this off-season.

Yankees traded Jordan Beck, Yankees Draft Pick 4 to Braves for Jaden 23-Hamm, Guardians Draft Pick 1

Beck broke out last year and on to some top 100 lists before his stock dipped a little at the end of the year based on a tough start to his MLB career. He's bounced back nicely this season with a 110 ops+ and planted himself firmly in the middle of the Rockies lineup coinciding with them playing much better. Good young player.

Hamm is a talented pitcher. He got near some top 100 lists last year and has held his own at AA this year. He's a project for sure..but I've got time to wait on his pure stuff. And the 1st...the 1st was wonderful to get, too.

Yankees traded Anthony Volpe, Yankees Draft Pick 5 to Angels for Lucas Braun, Angels Draft Pick 2

Look...I'm gonna lose this trade. Volpe is still just 24 and has, in spurts, been outstanding offensively and defensively in the MLB. As a Yankee fan, I couldn't be rooting for him harder...and I just can't do it anymore on two fronts. He does have a good sim and still a tremendous amount of talent.

In return I get a really nice project arm in a good system in Braun and a good draft pick. If you're sitting around as a GM in this league and saying that 'Brett didn't get enough' then you should have offered more.

Mariners traded Michael Toglia to Yankees for Marlins Draft Pick 3

It's a 3rd round pick in a decent draft. Solid value.

Toglia was solid last year in his first full MLB runout and 1b is a place where I don't have a lot of confidence in a long-term solution. He's tormented AAA back to 2022 and is in a good organization to continue to get AB's. He's a talent...but we'll see if he can ever do it at the MLB level.

Twins traded Moises Ballesteros to Yankees for Brooks Lee, Eduardo 22-Tait, Pirates Draft Pick 1

It's a solid draft class and the first is a good pick. The Twins are raving about Brooks Lee and despite some inconsistencies with the bat, they have put him in the middle of the lineup because of his leadership and their belief in him. Tait is another Twins prospect who is very similarly ranked to Ballesteros, just younger and less developed. There's massive upside, but he's a catcher.

I've asked about Ballesteros many times before fully going in on him here. This may ultimately be a bit of an overpay, but with such a limited crop of prospect catchers, I truly think I've picked up the most developed & dynamic bat available, non-Basallo category. His stats have continued to get better as he's climbed up the developmental ladder, and while he wasn't as dynamic in his short MLB stint as he's been in the minors, he didn't get the bat knocked out of his hands either (1 k in 20 pa's). He'll finish this season still being just 21 years old and with nothing left to prove in the minors. There may be a day where he's not a catcher, but that won't be for a long time...especially if he keeps hitting.

Yankees traded Tyler Freeman, Noelvi Marte, Astros Draft Pick 2 to Reds for Brett Baty, Ryan 24-Waldschmidt, Reds Draft Pick 1

Freeman is a butcher of an outfielder (although the SIM thinks he's fine in CF), but he's having an excellent first full season in Colorado with the bat. As long as he gets a SIM at 2b or cf that's decent, he'll be a positive SIM player. Marte is clearly the get here, though. After a tough 2024, Marte has been outstanding at AAA and the MLB level this season. He's a bit less valuable as an of, but as long as he plays 3b, he's a SIM 3b. The second will fall towards the back half of that round.

Waldschmidt is having an incredible end to his first full season. He's pushing on to top 100 lists and is one of the most well-rounded outfield prospects in baseball. There's no one amazing carrying tool, but he's above average, at least offensively, across the board. After another tough start, Baty is playing well enough to play every day for the Mets and he's a player I've long admired. That fact that he's still just 25 is pretty amazing. Nice to see it start to happen for him. The pick is also an awesome opportunity. It'll be between 10-15, which I think is a very good spot in this draft. Excited to add that player to the mix.