In his article entitled “Way-Early Trade Deadline Extravaganza Preview,” ESPN’s David Schoenfield has identified New York Yankees outfielder Everson Pereira and pitcher Chase Hampton as potential trade candidates to be offloaded by the team.
Schoenfield’s analysis stems from the Yankees’ abundance of promising young talent, some of whom have garnered more attention than others. This surplus of prospects could potentially be leveraged as valuable trade chips to bolster the team’s pitching staff and fortify the overall roster composition.
Schoenfield’s focus zeroes in on Pereira, highlighting his underwhelming performance during a brief call-up to the major league club last season. In 93 at-bats, Pereira managed a paltry .151 batting average without a single home run, leading to his eventual demotion back to Triple-A. Schoenfield also notes that the Yankees rookie currently finds himself behind Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones in the Yankees’ outfield depth chart.
“The Yankees are deep in interesting — some might say overhyped — prospects who could be traded to improve the roster, most assuredly to find some pitching help,” writes Schoenfield. “We’ll start with Pereira. He lost some shine when he got called up last season and hit .151 while going homerless in 93 at-bats. Overmatched, he’s back at Triple-A, but he’s also behind Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones on the future outfield depth chart.”
Everson Pereira loses place in Yankees pecking order
While Pereira excelled in the minor league ranks last year, earning a late-season promotion to the big leagues, his stint with the Yankees was a struggle. In addition to his .151 batting average, he posted a disappointing .427 on-base percentage and an alarming 38.8% strikeout rate. The 23-year-old outfielder has begun the current season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he has shown some improvement with a .216 batting average, a .823 OPS, four home runs, and nine RBIs in 51 at-bats.
Despite his recent setbacks, Pereira possesses undeniable talent. Ranked as the Yankees’ fifth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, his scouting report on MLB.com highlights several attractive attributes. While adding muscle mass, he has managed to retain his impressive speed and base-stealing abilities. However, his offensive approach suggests a player more focused on power-hitting than on-base skills. Pereira also boasts strong defensive instincts, showcasing solid range, a strong throwing arm, and versatility across all three outfield positions. Although primarily a center fielder before 2023, he exclusively played left field during his brief stint with the major league team.
Schoenfield’s prediction remains precisely that – a speculation. Nonetheless, it raises the possibility that the Yankees could view Pereira as a valuable trade asset to address other pressing needs within the roster.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
If Pereira had struck out 42 times in 84 ABs & hit .179 with a .263 OBP in his Very Limited Play last year, would ESPN’s David Schoenfield & Yankee fans have said his performance was underwhelming & made him nothing more than a trade chip?
I ask that question because those were AARON JUDGE’S 2016 stats in a similar number of ABs to Pereira’s 2023 cup of coffee in the majors.
So, should we have traded Judge back in the 2016 off season because of his horrendous 2016 cup of coffee? Stupid question, right?
Just like Schoenfield’s stupid assessment of Pereira’s limited time in the majors in 2023, which followed his promotion from AAA where he did this:
.312 BA, .386 OBP, .551 SLG, and .937 OPS in his FIRST partial year at the AAA level,
which came after he was promoted mid-year from AA, where he did this:
.291BA, .362 OBP, .545 SLG, and .907 OPS.
Once again, the Yankees mishandled a young player, something they EXCEL AT under Brainless Brian Cashman’s Shipwreck Leadership.
Want proof? Look at how well Cabrera has responded once the Yankees were FORCED to play him every day. If DJL hadn’t gotten injured, they’d still be Misusing Cabrera, just like they Misused Cabrera, Peraza & Pereira in 2023 because of Cashman’s INEPT Roster Construction. (Come on, you all miss Donaldson & crew, don’t you?)
In fact, the Yankees even tried to Misuse Cabrera this year, sitting him against lefties in favor of Jon Berti, who, fortunately for Cabrera & the Yankees, sustained a groin injury & went on the IL, so Cabrera could play every day.
See! The Yankees never tire of trying to screw up good prospects & destroy their confidence.
None of this is to say that the Yankees shouldn’t use Pereira if it gets them a needed MLB talent, since Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones are ahead of him on the pecking order now.
But don’t trade Pereira because he’s a failed prospects based on 27 Games at the MLB level, after he ONLY Played 35 Games at the AAA Level!
Promoting a (then) 22-year-old player After Just 35 AAA Games CONSTITUTES PROSPECT ABUSE BY CASHMAN, which is one of myriad of reasons I call him Brainless Brian.