NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are in a position most teams would envy but few can navigate easily. Their 26-year-old breakout star Ben Rice has become one of the most talked-about names in baseball’s trade market this offseason. Teams across the league have been calling with serious offers, yet general manager Brian Cashman and his front office have continued to say no.
That raises an important question for the Yankees organization: Should they stay firm or finally listen?
Rice’s stunning 2025 campaign has created a unique dilemma. After blasting 26 home runs with a .255 average and an .836 OPS in 158 games, the young first baseman has shown he belongs in the heart of the Yankees’ lineup. His emergence came just as Paul Goldschmidt, 37, reached free agency, leaving first base wide open for a new long-term anchor.
But with rival clubs calling nonstop, the question lingers — is Rice truly untouchable, or does every player ultimately have a price?
Trade interest reaches fever pitch
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Rice has quickly become the most sought-after Yankee in offseason discussions. Multiple teams have checked in on his availability, though few have gotten far.
“Ben Rice has been about the most popular Yankee in trade talks,” Heyman wrote. “Teams have been asking about him regularly but the Yankees are understandably extremely reluctant to deal him.”
That hesitation makes perfect sense when examining Rice’s analytics. His expected batting average sat at .300, and his expected weighted on-base average was .410 — both higher than his actual numbers. These metrics suggest Rice actually underperformed relative to his skill level in 2025.
His average exit velocity of 93.3 mph ranked ninth in Major League Baseball, earning him the nickname “Benny Barrels.” Every time he made contact, the ball jumped off his bat with authority.
Beyond his production, Rice provides remarkable financial flexibility. He earned only $782,800 last season and is projected to make $820,000 in 2026 — an extraordinary bargain in today’s MLB economy. That kind of cost control for a middle-of-the-order bat is the envy of any front office, especially for a luxury-tax-heavy franchise like the Yankees.
What would it actually take?
Fans and insiders alike have speculated about what kind of return could possibly convince Cashman to move Rice. One name consistently mentioned is Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 23-year-old ace.
It would take a king’s ransom for the Yankees to even consider it. Any deal involving Skenes would likely require Rice plus additional arms like Luis Gil or Clarke Schmidt, and top prospects such as George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, Carlos Lagrange, and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. Even then, the Pirates would have little reason to part with their generational talent — and certainly not to a storied American League power like the Yankees.
Other more realistic pitching targets, such as Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins or Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers, could offer upgrades but lack the ace-level dominance to justify parting with a rising star like Rice.
As one analysis put it, “With Aaron Judge not getting any younger, they need to hold onto players like Rice as a move for their future.” Once Judge begins to decline from his peak years, the Yankees will need bats like Rice to keep their offense afloat.
The Austin Wells factor complicates matters
Rice’s value extends far beyond his bat. His ability to play multiple positions — first base, catcher, and designated hitter — gives Aaron Boone unmatched lineup flexibility. That versatility adds to the puzzle, especially when considering Austin Wells, the Yankees’ primary catcher.
Wells hit just .219 with a .712 OPS last season, but his defensive value remained exceptional. His framing ranked third-best among MLB catchers, and pitchers praised his game-calling skills.
“Really have a lot of trust in him back there,” Boone said during the ALDS, emphasizing Wells’ leadership behind the plate.
Balancing the playing time of both left-handed hitters has been tricky. Rice appeared in 120 games, while Wells caught 112, thanks to Rice’s ability to shift to first base or designated hitter. That alignment allowed Boone to keep both players’ bats active despite Wells’ offensive struggles.
Making Rice a full-time first baseman would simplify part of that equation but create another — the Yankees would need to find a capable backup catcher. Carrying three left-handed-hitting catchers on the same roster proved less than ideal in 2025.
Goldschmidt, who worked closely with Rice after joining New York late in the season, offered a veteran’s view of his progress. He described watching Rice catch a bullpen session before Game 4 of the ALDS, then immediately moving to first base for fielding drills.
“That’s incredibly hard to do,” Goldschmidt said. “Just a guy who continues to learn and get better. Great asset to this organization, whether he continues to play two positions or just one of those.”
Why the Yankees are standing firm
The Yankees’ unwillingness to move Rice says a lot about how the franchise views its future. After years of spending big on aging stars, Cashman now faces pressure to balance short-term contention with long-term sustainability.
With Judge turning 34 in April and Gerrit Cole recovering from elbow surgery, New York’s championship window is narrowing. They cannot afford to lose affordable, controllable stars who can carry the team for the next several seasons.
Rice checks every box the Yankees need right now — young, inexpensive, durable, and highly productive. His strong underlying metrics suggest he’s only scratching the surface of his potential. Analysts believe that if he hits closer to his expected numbers next year — a .300 average with a .410 wOBA — Rice would rank among baseball’s elite hitters.
That type of production, at his salary, makes him invaluable. Teams spend years searching for players like that.
The calls from other general managers will keep coming. There will be creative proposals, prospect-heavy packages, and desperate offers from teams trying to pry away one of the most promising bats in baseball. But for now, the Yankees appear determined to hold their ground.
Cashman’s message has been clear — they’re not interested in subtracting from their core, especially a player still years away from arbitration.
For all the talk about blockbuster trades, the real story may be the one that doesn’t happen. Ben Rice has become too important to the Yankees future to let go. His growth from a promising minor leaguer into a middle-of-the-order threat has been one of the team’s biggest success stories.
The offers might be tempting, but for now, New York’s answer is simple: Ben Rice isn’t going anywhere.
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