The latest Yankees rumors are centered on a possible trade with the Reds for Luis Castillo, with Miguel Andujar and Clint Frazier considered ‘key’ to deal.
After a relatively dormant start to the offseason, the New York Yankees front office got busy this weekend. On Friday, New York finally re-signed their superstar second baseman DJ LeMahieu to a six-year, $90 million contract. They followed this move by signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to a one-year, $11 million deal. The newest Yankees rumors make it appear the club isn’t finished yet.
According to multiple sources, the Yankees are in talks with the Cincinnati Reds to trade for 28-year-old starting pitcher Luis Castillo. With Castillo locked up for three more years under a team-friendly contract, this rumored deal becomes a question of what New York can offer.
And it appears that budding young talents Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar are “key” pieces to this rumored deal.
Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar would be "key" pieces in a possible trade for Reds RHP Luis Castillo, per @RicardoGibbon.@z101digital @ZDeportes https://t.co/dDLFMYiLGN
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 16, 2021
Castillo would be an incredible addition to New York’s rotation, a hole the Yankees were looking to address. In four years of MLB experience, the 28-year-old owns one All-Star appearance and a 3.62 ERA, while averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Castillo is very much in his prime, pitching to a 3.21 ERA and 11.4 strikeouts per nine last year.
With the healthy returns of Luis Severino and Kluber, the potential of New York’s starting rotation to include Gerrit Cole, Kluber, Severino, Jordan Montgomery and Castillo is a frightening prospect for other American League teams.
Frazier is clearly the most debatable piece for New York to offer in this rumored trade. The 26-year-old outfielder, who projects as a budding star, is primed to take over the starting spot in left field. Frazier is known for his legendary bat speed, essentially forcing himself into the Yankees deep lineup last season.
Yes, the injuries to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton helped, but Frazier hit .267/.394/.511 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs in just 39 games last season.
His defense also took a jump last season. Combined with his well-above-average throwing arm and athleticism, Frazier posted a 29 Rtot/yr last season in the outfield. The Yankees already possess holes in the outfield, so this is one piece New York would be reluctant to give up.
On the other hand, dealing Andujar for a viable starting pitcher seems like a no-brainer. Andujar came onto the scene looking like New York’s future third baseman in 2018. The 25-year-old suffered injury problems before Gio Urshela took a firm grasp on the position over the past two seasons.
As a result of the Yankees’ lack of outfield depth, New York attempted to convert Andujar into a left fielder. The defensive results were dismal. With Andujar’s impressive approach at the plate and his proven defensive capabilities at third base, the Yankees should include him in any potential deals to add depth to other positions of need.
Fortunately, the Yankees’ farm system is deeper than year’s past, and New York has other options to offer in a potential Castillo trade. New York possesses three Top-100 MLB prospects in Jasson Dominguez, Clarke Schmidt, and Deivi Garcia. Dominguez and Garcia seem untouchable, but Schmidt could be included to obtain an MLB-proven and young pitching talent such as Castillo.