The Yankees and Rays don’t have another game scheduled this season following Monday’s series finale in the Bronx, but there’s a chance a few Tampa Bay players could appear at Yankee Stadium again this season.
With the July 30 trade deadline looming, the Rays have a lot of what the Yankees need. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has been scouting the Yankees’ minor league system, according to multiple reports.
While there’s often some hesitation when it comes to division foes trading with one another, let’s take a look at some Rays who could be of interest to the Bombers. Stats are as of Monday morning.
Isaac Paredes
While he’s not known for his glove, Paredes has experience at all four infield positions. If the Yankees were able to pry the first-time All-Star away, it would likely be with the intention of Paredes playing third base, as DJ LeMahieu is no longer reliable. The Yankees will have to give up a haul to make that happen, but Paredes’ bat (16 HR, 51 RBI, 135 OPS+) would add needed depth to a lineup that has been too reliant on Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Paredes doesn’t boast the type of contract metrics the Yankees love – his average exit velo, Hard-Hit% and bat speed are in the sixth percentile or worse – but the 25-year-old gets results and won’t be a free agent until 2028.
Zach Eflin
Eflin, 30, is in the second year of a three-year, $40 million contract, the richest deal in Rays history. The righty has been fine this season (4.14 ERA, 3.65 FIP, 18 starts), though he surrendered four earned runs to the Yankees on Friday. The Yankees technically have a full and healthy rotation right now, and Clarke Schmidt should be back from a lat injury later in the season. But Carlos Rodón has struggled, Nestor Cortes has been inconsistent and Luis Gil has workload concerns. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Yankees add rotation depth.
Garrett Cleavinger
While not the most recognizable name on the Rays, Cleavinger’s ability to rack up strikeouts would be a huge boost to a Yankees bullpen that’s had a hard time punching people out all season. The lefty has 51 strikeouts over 40 innings this season (29.1 K%) and he’s been effective against both sides of the plate. The 30-year-old won’t be a free agent until 2028.
Peter Fairbanks
Fairbanks is another 30-year-old reliever who could help the Yankees’ pen. While the right-hander isn’t the strikeout threat that Cleavinger is (33 K/34.2 innings), the closer has saved 43 games since last season and has a 2.80 ERA since 2020. He could form a closing duo with Clay Holmes or simply provide reliable, ninth-inning coverage when Holmes is not available. Either way, Fairbanks, a free agent in 2026, would add a high-leverage arm to a relief unit that needs a few.
Brandon Lowe
Second baseman Gleyber Torres is not the Yankees’ biggest problem, but he’s been inconsistent at best at the plate, a mess in the field and is in a walk year. The lefty-swinging Lowe (10 HR, 28 RBI, 131 OPS+) would be an upgrade and comes with a pair of team options after this season. And while he hasn’t done it this year, the 30-year-old can also play some corner outfield, another area of need for the Yankees.
Yandy Díaz
Díaz, 32, is having a down year by his recent standards (8 HR, 46 RBI, .329 OBP, 109 OPS+), but the 32-year-old still gets on base at a consistent clip and could help the Yankees in the leadoff spot. He’s played first and third throughout his career, but he’s yet to man the hot corner this season. As for first, Ben Rice has done a commendable job at his second position since debuting, but his average was down to .211. Brian Cashman recently declined to make a full-season commitment to the rookie.
Amed Rosario
The Yankees made a run at Rosario prior to the season, but he ultimately signed with the Rays. The ex-Met has enjoyed a strong campaign in Tampa Bay (.306 AVG, .329 OBP, 113 OPS+) while playing second, third, short and right. The 28-year-old could be the roving utilityman the Yankees thought Jon Berti would be before multiple injuries. Berti recently suffered a setback while recovering from a calf strain, and he could be an alternative to LeMahieu if the Yankees don’t trade for a third baseman.
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