In the trade deadline, Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza are untouchable
The Yankees were unwilling to trade their top two prospects this winter in order to acquire baseman Matt Olson.
As the trade deadline approaches in six months later, the organization’s stance on shortstops Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe remains unchanged.
According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees recently told the Reds that they “won’t part” with Volpe or Peraza and that their availability “won’t change” during preliminary trade talks for starting pitcher Luis Castillo. Heyman described those two highly-touted prospects are Cincinnati’s “prime targets”.
Not only did the Yankees decline to use those shortstops in a potential Olson trade before he was dealt to the Braves in March, but they also declined to sign a top-tier shortstop in free agency.
In a five-player deal with the Twins that included catcher Gary Sánchez, New York acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa. If everything goes as planned, both Volpe and Peraza will be playing up the middle in pinstripes sooner than later.
The Yankees have a strong farm system, but if Cincinnati wants Volpe or Peraza and neither side is willing to budge, it’s difficult to see these two clubs reaching an agreement before the deadline. New York is in a position where they suddenly need pitching—Luis Severino has been placed on the injured list, Nestor Cortes has never experienced this workload before, and Jameson Taillon has struggled mightily of late—but other teams are interested in Castillo. That means the Reds will have more chances to get the package they want, a collection of prospects worthy of an ace and a two-time All-Star.
It goes without saying, but Heyman added that Castillo will be expensive. Can the Yankees put together a package with their next tier of prospects that is still effective? Or is Cincinnati only interested in their top shortstops and will not negotiate otherwise?
Only time will tell.
To begin the 2022 season, both prospects have positioned themselves for advancement within the Yankees organization. Volpe, a former first-round pick, is hitting .253/.351/.461 in 77 games with Double-A Somerset this year, with 12 home runs, 42 RBI, 52 runs, and 35 stolen bases. Meanwhile, Peraza is batting .245/.317/.421 in 67 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with 11 home runs, 31 RBI, 31 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases.
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