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4 Prospects the Yankees Should Dangle in an Attempt to Trade for Another Star Pitcher

By Sean Facey

There's no shortage of prospect talent that the Yankees can flip for another starter.
There's no shortage of prospect talent that the Yankees can flip for another starter. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

With James Paxton out for a couple of months and Luis Severino set to miss the season due to Tommy John surgery, the New York Yankees suddenly find themselves in need of another quality starting pitcher. Fortunately for them, they have plenty of talent in the farm system to swing a deal. These four up-and-coming players in particular could be used as trade bait if general manager Brian Cashman determines by the end of Spring Training that the Bombers need another top arm.

4. Luis Gil, RHP

Luis Gil has an appealing fastball.
Luis Gil has an appealing fastball. / Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The 21-year-old Gil posted a 2.72 ERA across 96 innings between A-ball and High-A in 2019. He's shown that he has the ability to miss bats, especially with his triple-digit fastball. There's nothing not to like about him as a prospect, and a team trading away a star pitcher could view him as a solid return piece to help build for the future.

3. Albert Abreu, RHP

Albert Abreu could be an impact piece in the near future should a team acquire him.
Albert Abreu could be an impact piece in the near future should a team acquire him. / Mark Cunningham/Getty Images

Abreu had a rather pedestrian season in Double-A last year, pitching to the tune of a 4.28 ERA across 23 appearances. He owns a 65-grade fastball, a 55-grade curveball and changeup to boot, though, and if he can hone those pitches just a little bit more, he could be lethal. Considering his age (24) and where he is in the pipeline, he seems close to being major-league ready, making him an enticing, near-immediate impact piece to acquire.

2. Estevan Florial, OF

Florial has the tools to be a quality player.
Florial has the tools to be a quality player. / Mark Brown/Getty Images

Despite a disappointing 2019 campaign, Florial remains one of the most highly-touted prospects in the lower levels of the Yankees' farm system. The 22-year-old has plenty of speed, and he still has a bit of time to round himself into a more polished hitter. All of the tools are there for him to become a quality player at the major-league level, and considering the outfield logjam that the Yankees already have, he'd be the perfect piece to ship out to bolster the rotation.

1. Clarke Schmidt, RHP

Schmidt is one of the Yankees' top young arms.
Schmidt is one of the Yankees' top young arms. / Tim Warner/Getty Images

Schmidt has shown plenty of promise as one of the Yankees' top prospect arms in spring training, but if they want a star pitcher, then they're going to have to give up a star prospect in return. The righty brings plenty of talent to the table. He reached Double-A last year, managing a 3.47 ERA across three levels of the minor thanks in part to his dazzling curveball. The undeniable upside that he has could help the Yankees land the impact arm that they need for this year.