9 Yankees rookies in trade play as Cashman eyes pitching upgrade

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees face critical decisions on nine rookie prospects as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. General manager Brian Cashman has declared the team will “go to town” in pursuit of pitching help after losing ace Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to season-ending injuries.

Yankees management has identified starting pitching and bullpen depth as urgent priorities following a first half that left them trailing in the American League East. With luxury tax penalties complicating acquisitions, Cashman must balance immediate needs against the organization’s future.

Industry sources indicate nine rookies have emerged as realistic trade candidates: Ben Rice, Rafael Flores, Roderick Arias, Roc Riggio, Bryce Cunningham, Ben Hess, Brock Selvidge, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler. Each offers unique value for teams seeking controllable talent.

Will Warren

Age: 26
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Draft year: 2021
Level playing currently: MLB
Present stats: 6-4 record with 4.70 ERA and 111 strikeouts through July 2025. Made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster due to injuries to Cole and Gil.
Why in demand: Has a 70-grade sweeper that averaged over 3,000 RPMs and a 93-94 mph fastball that touches 97 mph. Also throws an 89-mph changeup and slider. Had a 2.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over his final 10 starts at Triple-A in 2024. Projects as a No. 3 starter with potential to exceed that projection.

Cam Schlittler

Age: 24
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Draft year: 2022
Level playing currently: MLB
Present stats: 1-0 record with 4.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts in limited MLB action. Made his major league debut on July 9, 2025.
Why in demand: The 6-foot-6 righthander won Yankees organization and High-A South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honors in 2024. Led Yankees farmhands with 154 strikeouts in 120⅔ innings. Fastball sits at 95 mph and dials up to 98. Added a cutter to his arsenal that generates weak contact and ground balls. Recently dominated Double-A with a 2.38 ERA before his MLB promotion.

Ben Rice

Age: 26
Position: Catcher-first base
Draft year: 2021
Level playing currently: MLB
Present stats: Batting .232 with 15 home runs and 32 RBIs in 84 games through July 2025
Why in demand: Rice made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster for the 2025 season and provides positional versatility that multiple contenders covet. The left-handed hitter offers five-plus years of team control through 2030. Teams value his controllable contract and dual-position capability, with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres reportedly expressing interest.

Rafael Flores

Age: 24
Position: Catcher-first base
Draft year: 2022 (undrafted free agent)
Level playing currently: Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Present stats: Recently promoted to Triple-A after hitting .287 with .841 OPS and 15 home runs in 87 games at Double-A Somerset
Why in demand: MLB Pipeline currently ranks him as the Yankees’ No. 15 prospect, and he’s gaining serious buzz as the deadline nears. Hit his first Triple-A homer on July 23, 2025, a 413-foot blast at 106.8 mph. Flores is now a name drawing interest from rebuilding clubs looking to acquire a bat-first catcher with years of control.

Roderick Arias

Age: 20
Position: Shortstop
Draft year: 2022 (international free agent)
Level playing currently: Single-A Tampa
Present stats: Hit .233/.335/.393 with 13 HR, 74 RBI, 37 SB in 124 games during the 2024 season at Single-A Tampa
Why in demand: Signed for $4 million as an international free agent and was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 international class. Possesses one of the strongest arms in the system with an 80-grade rating for arm strength. Despite recent struggles, his five-tool potential keeps him valuable to teams seeking high-ceiling prospects.

Roc Riggio

Age: 23
Position: Second base
Draft year: 2023
Level playing currently: Double-A Somerset
Present stats: Following a recent promotion to Double-A Somerset, hitting .333 with .879 slugging percentage and 5 home runs in his first 8 games. Has hit 10 home runs at Double-A this season as of July 25, 2025.
Why in demand: Hit 6 home runs in 20 games at High-A Hudson Valley, more than half his 2024 total in just 19 percent of the plate appearances. His advanced plate discipline features a 21.3% walk rate. Power-hitting second basemen are rare commodities in trade markets.

Bryce Cunningham

Age: 22
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Draft year: 2024
Level playing currently: High-A Hudson Valley
Present stats: Pitching a 1.93 ERA in 46.2 innings across 8 games at High-A before landing on the injured list
Why in demand: The 6-foot-5, 230-pound righthander has a fastball that sits 94-95 mph and has been up to 99. Yankees’ vice president of domestic amateur scouting described his repertoire as “three pitches that are just dynamite”. His four-pitch arsenal has impressed scouts as a potential front-line starter.

Ben Hess

Age: 22
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Draft year: 2024
Level playing currently: High-A Hudson Valley
Present stats: Offers a 4.32 ERA in 41.2 innings through 9 games at High-A. Made his professional debut with a dominant performance: 4⅔ innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts.
Why in demand: Selected 26th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and signed for $2,747,500. Yankees envision him developing into a front-line big league starting pitcher. Fastball sits around 94 mph and has been up to 98-99 with above-average riding life. His mid-80s slider projects as a 60-grade weapon.

Brock Selvidge

Age: 22
Position: Left-handed pitcher
Draft year: 2021
Level playing currently: Double-A Somerset
Present stats: Has a 3.06 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 17.2 innings in 4 starts since returning from injury in June 2025
Why in demand: Ranked seventh in the Yankees’ farm system per MLB.com. Added a curveball to an impressive arsenal that includes a four-seam fastball, cutter, sweeping slider, and changeup. Made the roster for the 2024 MLB Futures Game before injury. His five-pitch repertoire and clean delivery draw praise from rival evaluators.

Yankees’ Urgent Pitching Needs

The Yankees’ rotation has been decimated by injuries, with Marcus Stroman struggling to a 4.30 ERA and key starters sidelined. Yankees management has made starting pitching its top priority before the deadline.

The team’s current luxury tax payroll of $309.9 million triggers a 60% surcharge on acquisitions, creating financial pressure to maximize prospect value. Potential targets include established starters who could stabilize the rotation.

With only three, Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones, and George Lombard Jr., who are considered untouchable, the Yankees lack elite trade capital. MLB ranks its farm system 24th among 30 organizations, though it maintains above-average depth in certain areas.

As the deadline approaches, Cashman faces the challenge of balancing immediate championship aspirations against long-term organizational health. These nine rookies represent the Yankees’ primary currency for addressing critical roster needs that could determine their October fate.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.