This New York Yankees player could be dealt at the MLB trade deadline.
The New York Yankees finally lost a game on Wednesday, but they have still gone 15-3 over their last 18 games to establish themselves as the cream of the crop in the American League. At least for now.
Remember: the Yankees got off to scintillating starts in 2024 and 2025, as well, only to trudge through brutal midseason swoons a bit later.
While New York looks good enough to win a World Series as currently constructed, chances are, it will make some moves between now and the MLB trade deadline.
A whole can change between now and Aug. 3, so the Yankees certainly must be prepared to potentially make changes.
But which player is New York most likely to trade this summer?
While Spencer Jones and some of the Yankees' top pitching prospects may seem like the best answer, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller actually feels it's Oswaldo Cabrera.
"There will, of course, be talk of Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones as possible trade chips. But when and where does Cabrera fit back into the mix in the Bronx?" Miller wrote. "José Caballero has been great, Ryan McMahon isn't going anywhere, Amed Rosario has been a more than adequate utilityman and they're going to bring Anthony Volpe back eventually. If they can swap Cabrera for a bullpen arm, they'll probably do it."
New York Yankees infielder Oswaldo Cabrera. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images.Miller is certainly right about Cabrera. Anything Cabrera can do, Caballero can do better, and the Yanks have plenty of other infield options.
It's also important to keep in mind that the Yankees could potentially call up George Lombard Jr. at some point this season, further marginalizing Cabrera's role.
Cabrera is a fan favorite and had been a regular in the Bronx, but a gruesome ankle injury ended his 2025 campaign after just 34 games, and it may have also put a period on his stay with New York as a whole.
The Yankees went out and landed Rosario and Caballero at the deadline last summer, which has left Cabrera without a niche. Hence the reason why he was optioned to Triple-A before the start of the season.
Since entering the big leagues in 2022, Cabrera has slashed .234/.295/.346. His value is more tied to his defensive versatility than anything else, as he can play anywhere in the infield as well as the two corner outfield spots.
But Caballero can do that, too, so it doesn't make much sense to keep Cabrera around anymore.
Of course, the 27-year-old doesn't have a ton of value, so he would either fetch a very low-level prospect in return, or he could be a throw-in piece in a larger deal.
Yankees Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Yankees. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.