Trey Sweeney, the New York Yankees’ first-round pick in 2021, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday morning. Victor Gonzalez, a left-handed reliever, and infield prospect Jorbit Vivas were sent to the Yankees in exchange. Fans of the Yankees might initially be worried that their eighth-ranked prospect was traded away. Still, the players acquired have a lot of potential and should assist the Yankees right away.
Wandy Peralta, who is a free agent, will most likely be replaced by Victor Gonzalez in the Yankees bullpen. Gonzalez’s characteristics are exactly what the Yankees are searching for in bullpen arms. He is a pitcher that possesses a slider, changeup, and sinker from the mid-1990s. He is more affordable than Peralta, but he has many of the same traits. Throughout his three major league seasons, Gonzalez has a career 3.22 ERA, indicating success at the major league level. In addition, he and Nick Ramirez are the only two left-handed relievers in the bullpen at this point. It’s a wise decision for this portion of the trade.
Jorbit Vivas is arguably the most important player in the deal and a seriously undervalued prospect. Sweeney is 23 years old, whereas Vivas is 22. Both players were at Double-A this past season, but Vivas was superior. With a batting average of.252, 13 home runs, a.778 OPS, and 20 stolen bases, Sweeney was quite successful. Additionally, he struck out at a rate of 23 percent, and as he starts to face harder pitching, that rate will probably go up.
Conversely, Vivas hit.280 in Double-A while stealing 21 bases, hitting 12 home runs, and having an OPS of.827. Vivas stands out for his remarkable plate discipline, as he has struck out 52 times and walked 54 times. He will have to exercise more self-control when facing harder pitches, but this is a great indication of things to come. Fortunately, the Yankees acquired a left-handed bat in exchange for the one they lost. Players such as Vivas are essential in Yankee Stadium, where left-handed hitters are greatly favored.
This trade was profitable for both the Dodgers and the Yankees. Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly will allow the Dodgers to make room on their 40-man roster, and the Yankees will gain early bullpen support as well as a high-upside, underappreciated prospect. Sweeney’s versatility in the infield could also be a factor for the Dodgers in the future.
Both teams have improved significantly overall since the start of last week. They are both ensuring that their superstar abilities are not just surface-level.
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