IBC

Yankees traded Brett Baty, Braves Draft Pick 3 to Astros for Yandel 23-Ricardo, Randy Rodriguez, Kendry 24-Chourio

Baty's playing very well this year. He's been about a 3 win player, playing good 2b & 3b, and hitting 10% above league average closing in on 20 homers...even while getting a big yo-yo'd in and out of the lineup. It's a tremendous improvement over last year.

This is going to be a boom or bust haul for him. Rodriguez was one of the, if not THE, best relievers in baseball this year before TJ hit. I'm not winning shit next year, so assuming a full recovery, he'll be ready to close games for me when I'm ready to actually have games to close. Chourio is one of the breakout arms in the minors in the second half of the year. Still just 17, he flew through the DSL & ACL all the way to full season ball where he's more than held his own. He's not tall and he's a pitching prospect, but he's a big talent. Ricardo is a top 5 prospect in the Royals system who destroyed the ACL before also getting some run in full season ball. He already has a plus hit tool and tremendous bat speed, and while he may outgrow short, that would be good for that untapped power. He's another one with a massive ceiling who'll be fun to watch develop.

Yankees traded Caleb Durbin, Brandon 23-Winokur to Guardians for George Valera, Christopher Morel

Caleb Durbin was a waiver pickup for me who had a very good year playing excellent defense and solid offense for the Brewers. Brandon Winokur is an elite athlete who had a decent season but still has major swing and miss issues.

I’ve got a ton of MIF’s and ‘23’s with COF being an area of weakness for me. This trade sees me pick up two fun ones. As recently as 2023, Morel looked like a breakout power bat who could play 6 positions. Inconsistent AB’s have yielded inconsistent results, so spring training is going to be massive for Morel to earn consistent opportunities. George Valera was flying up prospect lists before injuries and inconsistency took some shine off his star. He was injured to start this season but earned his way up to MLB and he had some huge AB’s for the Guardians down the stretch. He’ll go into next year healthy and with a chance to win a starting spot. If one of these guys finds consistent AB’s next year I’ll be very happy with the deal.

Yankees traded Pirates Draft Pick 4 to Padres for Luis Gil, Braves Draft Pick 5

Ends up being a jump of 15 picks in a pretty deep draft. It's not nothing.

While Gil came back injury and the top level stats looked ok, the secondaries hated him and zips (who was already pretty meh on him) punished him something fierce. The Yanks have let his name slip in trade rumors and, with Cole/Rodon/Fried ahead of him and good prospects behind him, he'll have to earn every start he gets. But he was awesome as a rookie and had a short runway back from injury. Here's hoping a healthy off-season puts him back on the 2024 plan.

Astros traded Josh 23-Knoth, Esteban 23-Mejia to Yankees for Tyler Wells, Jasson Dominguez

Tough to move The Martian personally. He was a top 25 prospect as recently as last year and really held his own at the MLB level despite being constantly yo-yo'd in and out of the lineup. He'll be 23 in a couple of weeks, so plenty of developmental road ahead. Tyler Wells looked terrific back off an injury late in the season, and is someone who just keeps getting people out...despite secondary stats never totally buying in. Both will help in the SIM and are young enough to help moving forward, so not a lot of ways that Ty will truly rue this trade.

Esteban Mejia was clearly the get here. He's 18, raced up to A ball last year, and features some of the nastiest stuff in the minors. He's challenged by command, but so are many 18 year olds. He offers 102 mph cheese, a nasty slider, and tremendous shape on his changeup. He is one of the few in minor league ball that has true TORP upside, but, as always TINSTAAPP. Speaking of nasty stuff and TINSTAAPP, the Yankees welcome back Knoth to the squad. One of my favorite prospects from the '23 draft, he lost all of '25 with TJ, but will be back on the mound for '26. He can ramp up to the mid-90's, while also featuring two of the nastiest RPM secondaries in the '23 draft. Getting TJ out of the way while he's still just 20 was probably for the best, and he's expected to start the year ready to go. He'll be a fun follow.