As the trade deadline looms, the New York Yankees are juggling too many holes and not enough solutions. The team needs a starting pitcher. They need multiple bullpen arms. And they desperately need someone who can play third base without giving fans a heart attack every time the ball is hit that way.
According to CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa, the Yankees might solve at least one of those problems by subtracting from their big-league roster, not their farm system. In his latest deadline predictions column, Axisa forecasted that the Yankees will trade outfielder Trent Grisham to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a creative three-team deal that lands Minnesota Twins’ utility-man Willi Castro to the Bronx.
The Trade, Explained
The proposed deal would look like this:
- Yankees send: OF Trent Grisham to the Phillies
- Phillies send: Prospects to the Twins
- Twins send: INF Willi Castro to the Yankees
It’s not your typical blockbuster, but it’s precisely the puzzle-solving Brian Cashman might have to do. As Axisa notes, the Phillies need outfield help badly. Their trio of Johan Rojas, Max Kepler, and Brandon Marsh has underwhelmed, while Grisham has quietly had a productive season in a part-time role.
Meanwhile, the Yankees’ outfield is crowded. Aaron Judge and Cody Bellringer aren’t going anywhere, and Jasson Domínguez is finally healthy. Moving Grisham—a rental with value—makes sense if it plugs a hole elsewhere.
The Yankees can’t keep trotting out Oswald Peraza at third base and pretending it will work. Castro isn’t a star, but he’s a capable switch-hitting infielder, slashing .257/.347/.431 this season. He makes contact, draws walks, and would benefit from Yankee Stadium’s short porch as a left-handed hitter.
Plus, he brings defensive flexibility and speed, which New York’s current infield sorely lacks.
“Castro would mark a significant third base upgrade,” Axisa wrote, adding that the Twins would only agree to this if they get controllable prospects back, hence the need for a third team like Philadelphia.
Grisham hasn’t done anything wrong in pinstripes—he hasn’t had many opportunities. Stuck behind a loaded outfield and mainly used for late-game defense, the former Padres center fielder has shown flashes of his Gold Glove-caliber defense and decent on-base skills.
But if the Yankees are serious about upgrading at third, someone has to go. And Grisham might be the odd man out.
Sending him to Philly would be done right by the player—he’d get a starting gig—while getting something the Yankees need in return.
A Complicated Deal That Makes Sense
Three-team trades are always messy, but this one has a logical structure. Each club addresses a need: the Yankees get an infielder, the Phillies improve their outfield, and the Twins collect future talent.
Most importantly, the Yankees wouldn’t have to give up one of their top prospects, something Cashman seems reluctant to do unless it’s for a superstar.
In a deadline market that’s short on supply and high on desperation, a creative swap like this might be the best (and only) path forward.
Alvin Garcia Alvin Garcia is a Puerto Rican sports writer for Heavy.com. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, with coverage spanning across all leagues. More about Alvin Garcia
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