Andy Martino of SNY reported that the Tampa Bay Rays have scouts at the New York Yankees’ Single-A affiliate in Tampa. With the trade deadline approaching, both the Rays and Yankees are expected to be active, though potentially with different objectives. While Brian Cashman will likely be seeking upgrades for the Yankees, Erik Neander might consider selling key pieces to strengthen the Rays’ developing farm system.
According to Martino, the Rays are open to offers for Isaac Paredes, their All-Star representative this past season. This raises the possibility of a rare in-division blockbuster trade between the Yankees and Rays.
Isaac Paredes could be the Yankees’ top target at the deadline.
Isaac Paredes had another strong season, being nominated to the AL All-Star squad as the Tampa Bay Rays’ representative, hitting 15 home runs in 91 games and finishing with a 138 wRC+. The right-handed hitting infielder is an above-average hot corner defender with the pull-side power to easily blast the ball out of the stadium, despite some substandard hard-hit figures.
The Yankees’ current third base situation is plainly inadequate, but adding someone like Isaac Paredes to their lineup would require a significant investment. Expect names like Spencer Jones to come up in any discussion about an infielder with many years of control after the 2024 season, especially considering he’s only 25 years old