For years, the joke had been that the New York Yankees would trade Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar to whichever team for their best player. Between the Yankees tendency to overvalue their prospects, and then hang on to them far beyond the ability to get any value for them, Andujar and Frazier perfectly summarized the delusional mindset of the front office.
Well, get ready for the next Frazier and Andujar. According to Andy Martino from SNY, the Yankees have made it known that both Kyle Higashioka and Ben Rortvedt can be had.
New York Yankees hoping to turn lead into gold
It makes sense to see what they can get for Higashioka and Rortvedt. Teams are in constant need of catching depth, both as a major league backup and in the upper levels of the minors. Both players are out of options and are unlikely to crack the Yankees’ roster. Austin Wells is the future at the position and Jose Trevino played well before needing wrist surgery. There is no place for either Higashioka and Rortvedt.
Both catchers are similar. Higashioka and Rortvedt are both excellent defensive backstops with questionable offensive capabilities. While Rortvedt is younger and less expensive, he is also worse with the bat than Higashioka. It is a matter of whether or not the slight upgrade in defense is worth the downgrade offensively in a backup spot.
But this also assumes that the Yankees are able to trade either. Interested teams may prefer to wait for the two catchers to hit the waiver wire instead of parting with young pieces. In Higashioka’s case, it may be less expensive than whatever he would make in arbitration. The Yankees hopes of getting something for either catcher may just be a pipe dream. But those jokes about Shohei Ohtani or any other star will write themselves on social media.
The New York Yankees are hoping to trade Kyle Higashioka and Ben Rortvedt. It is difficult to imagine a team will part with anything for them.
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