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Just under two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East lead, the New York Yankees are right in the middle of the postseason hunt. Currently the top AL Wild Card, the Yankees would face off against the Cleveland Guardians in the playoffs’ opening round if the season ended tonight.
However, the Yankees are once again going through a midseason rough patch. Their inconsistency doomed them to a second-place AL East finish last season, followed by an elimination in the AL Division Series by another division rival, the Toronto Blue Jays. If New York wishes to avoid a similar fate this fall, then GM Brian Cashman needs to address the holes on the Bronx Bombers’ roster.
One such hole is at shortstop. While veteran Jose Caballero has performed admirably, manager Aaron Boone would prefer to deploy Caballero in a super utility role. The regression of former top pick Anthony Volpe has continued, leading many to question whether Volpe would be better served leaving his childhood favorite team.
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In ESPN insider Jeff Passan’s latest list of players who could be dealt at the upcoming MLB trade deadline, Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto is number six. The former first-rounder has three more years of control after this year and has quickly become one of baseball’s best shortstops. However, the Angels are looking to rebuild, as interim general manager John Mozeliak will look to add even more pieces to a potential long-term rebuild. Would a package led by Volpe and at least a couple of other young players be enough to bring Neto to the Bronx?
Anthony Volpe would headline a potential Yankees package for Zach Neto
Outside of Neto, catcher Logan O’Hoppe, plus outfielders Mike Trout and Jo Adell, the Angels’ lineup requires some upgrades. While subtracting Neto from it now will sting for at least the rest of this season, there’s a chance that a strong package from the Yankees would be a boost in the long run for the Halos.
While Volpe has regressed since his solid 2024 rookie campaign, he’s shown plenty of flashes over the last couple of seasons. A former Gold Glover, Volpe’s defensive decline is in some part due to playing most of last season with a shoulder injury. With the Angels, Volpe could play every day in a lower-pressure environment. If he can get back to his rookie year self, that would at least be a start.
The Yankees could also deal from their prospect depth in an attempt to bring Neto to the Bronx. Once injured starters Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt return from injury, New York’s starting pitching could be used in a Neto deal as well. For now, though, sending prospects Elmer Rodriguez and Ben Hess, plus a position player such as infielders Core Jackson or Kaeden Kent, could be enough to pry Neto loose. The Bombers could also ask about a reliever or two, as arms like Ryan Zeferjahn, Chase Silseth, or Kirby Yates are potentially available. In a perfect world, here’s what a proposed deal would look like.
Yankees acquire: SS Zach Neto, RP Kirby Yates
Angels acquire: SS Anthony Volpe, SP Elmer Rodriguez, SP Ben Hess, INF Core Jackson
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