Andrew McCutchen Potential Trade Fit: New York Yankees

What Could the Bucs Get?

One thing that the New York Yankees have done a great job of is building up their farm system. According to MLB.com, the Yankees have the second best farm system in baseball. This includes many top prospect they acquired last trade deadline.  Much has been written by Yankee sites about the possibility of acquiring McCutchen.  There has been a few common names among all the articles.  First, they list Luis Severino as part of a deal.  Severino was long considered the Yankees top pitching prospect, and in general a top 75 prospect in baseball.  He has electric stuff, with a fastball that sits 93-95, a hard slider, and a good change-up.  Severino was very good in his 2015 action, but he struggled in his sophomore season.  Although the Yankees have not soured on Severino, they would be willing to part with him.

Top Prospects

The other player names have been a lot of prospects.  Names such as Clint Frazier, Jorge Mateo, Justus Sheffield, Domingo Acevedo, and James Kaprelian.  Sites including outsidepitch.com and yanksgoyard.com both have suggested Clint Frazier as one of the prospects going back.  The fact is, the Yankees would be getting a proven all-star outfielder, making no room for Frazier.  Frazier, who is a top 25 prospect in baseball, would be a really intriguing player to add.

First, he is an elite talent that was given up by Cleveland for Andrew Miller.  Second, he grew up in the same town as top prospect Austin Meadows.  Lastly, he would just be another big chip, who is close to MLB ready.  Now some of you might be saying that we do not need Frazier because of Meadows.  Remember, the Pittsburgh Pirates are trading their former MVP outfielder.  As an organization the Bucs need to be looking to acquire the best talent package available, not for needs.  It just so happens the best chip the Yankees could offer is an outfielder.  Still, Frazier a highly valued prospect, who could be insurance if Meadows does not work out, or a trade piece at a later date.

Another Top Infield Prospect

The second most intriguing name is Jorge Mateo.  With the acquisition Gleyber Torres, the Yankees could look to move their former top shortstop prospect Mateo.  Torres was acquired in the Chapman trade, and quickly became the Yankees #2 prospect.  Mateo, who was a top 50 prospect entering the 2016 season, had somewhat of a down year.  On the season Mateo batted, .255 with a .685 OPS.  Those numbers are all below his career numbers since 2012.  Like McCutchen, many scouts also expect Mateo to bounce back at Double-A next year.

The other names like Sheffield, Avecedo, and Kaprelian all represent advanced top 10 prospects, upside arms that every team would like to have in their system. Sheffield (2014) and Kaprelian (2015) were both first round picks in their draft classes.  Avecedo is an international signing, who as of now is starting. The 6’7” right-handed arm projects better as a lights out closer.  All would be intriguing adds.