Yankees, Rays, and Diamondbacks Complete Three-Way Trade

The Yankees, Rays, and Diamondbacks have completed a three-way trade that helps each team. For the Diamondbacks, they acquire some more outfield depth in Steven Souza. The Yankees add some infield depth as they transition two rookies to the majors. The Rays shed some salary, clear up an outfield logjam, and get a couple of prospects headlined by Anthony Banda. With so many moving pieces, here is how the trade affects each team.

Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks receive the most fantasy relevant player in the trade, with Steven Souza coming over from the Rays. Last season, Souza found a little plate discipline, raising his OBP from .303 to .351 because his walk rate doubled from 7% to 14%. He was more productive, got additional playing time, and accumulated 30 home runs and 16 stolen bases. It’s tough to know exactly how the change in the home park will affect his performance because of the Diamondbacks’ new humidor. Fantasy owners should assume a neutral move.

The two big losers in Souza joining the D-backs are Jarrod Dyson and Yasmany Tomas. Both were outfield options, but Souza looks to push them to the bench as he joins David Peralta and A.J. Pollock in the outfield.

Pitching prospect Taylor Widener is also going from New York to Arizona. The 22-year-old performed decently in High-A, with a 9.7 K/9 and 3.39 ERA. Baseball America ranked him as the 22nd prospect in the Yankees’ system with a fastball sitting at 92 to 97 mph. He’s fantasy irrelevant for 2018.

As for the players leaving, Brandon Drury was expendable with Chris Owings and Ketel Marte up the middle. Also, Anthony Banda is a top pitching prospect, but not elite.

Rays

The main piece coming back to the Rays is Anthony Banda, who Baseball America ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Diamondbacks’ farm system. Banda had his major debut last season and struggled with men on base and posted a 5.96 ERA. His ERA estimators were quite a bit lower, and his peripheral stats seemed decent, with an 8.8 K/9 and 0.4 HR/9 while using a 94-mph fastball. While he’ll likely start in the minors, he should get some MLB starts this season.

Additionally, the Rays got second base prospect Nick Solak from the Yankees. Baseball America ranked him 12th overall prospect in the Yankees’ system. He’s unlikely to play in the majors this season but projects to be an all-around producer, hitting for both power and average while stealing a few bases.

The Rays don’t have a void to fill with Souza leaving, as the team has three major league outfielders in Denard Span, Kevin Kiermaier, and Mallex Smith.

Yankees

The Yankees pick up a perfect infield defender in Brandon Drury. The 25-year-old Drury will help fill the infield voids at second or third base as the Yankees determine when rookies Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar are ready to take over second base and third base, respectively. I could see Drury transitioning into a super utility role, as he has also played the outfield.

Owners should not expect much offensive production from Dury, as he just hit 13 home runs with a .267 AVG in 480 plate appearances last season. He was a little better in 2016, with 16 homers and a .282 AVG. It’s a blah profile, making him useful only in the deepest of leagues.

If any Yankee draws the short straw on this deal, it’s Ronald Torreyes. He may still see some time in the infield if both rookies start the season in the minors. However, he should be the first player moved to the bench once one of the pair is promoted.

Previous Hot Stove Analysis

Red Sox Sign J.D. Martinez

Padres Land Eric Hosmer

Rays Acquire C.J. Cron, Designate Corey Dickerson

Jake Odorizzi Traded to the Twins

Mets Sign Jason Vargas

Eduardo Nunez Inks Deal with Red Sox

Blue Jays Sign Jaime Garcia

Orioles Sign Andrew Cashner

Cardinals Add Bud Norris to Crowded Bullpen

Cubs Get Their Ace, Sign Yu Darvish

Mets Add Todd Frazier on Two-Year Deal