Key Takeaways:
– New York Yankees prospect Everson Pereira slated as the team’s likely trade candidate for 2024.
– Pereira is currently fifth-ranked in the Yankees’ farm system, and third among outfield prospects.
– Potential trade speculations for Pereira emerge in wake of a crowded outfield scenario for the Yankees.
– The Venezuelan prospect has shown improvements by adjusting his bat path in a bid to lower his strikeout rate.
– Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report columnist, first proposed Pereira’s potential as a trade piece in a May 23 article.
Yankees Prospect Everson Pereira Tipped for Trade
New York Yankees’ up-and-coming outfielder Everson Pereira is being viewed as the team’s most probable trade offering for the 2024 season. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has been gaining attention as a potential trade candidate due to the crowded outfield situation in the team. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter first mooted this possibility in a recently published column.
Anticipated Outfield Changes
The Yankees’ outfield is already quite packed with Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo shouldering pivotal roles. Their top prospect Jasson Dominguez is also expected to make a comeback post his Tommy John surgery. Additionally, Spencer Jones, another high-profile player from the Yankees’ farm system, could further intensify the situation.
Reuter suggests an intriguing solution. He states that by trading one of their surplus outfielders, like Pereira, the Yankees could create a vacancy for newer blood and address a more urgent need in their roster. Pereira, who follows Jones and Dominguez in the list of outfield prospects, might find more playing time at a different club.
The Guerrero Jr. Connection
The Yankees are reportedly considering bringing Toronto Blue Jays powerhouse Vladimir Guerrero Jr. onboard this season. If this deal materializes, Pereira might find his name included in the prospective trades.
Pereira’s Journey So Far
Initially signed in the Yankees’ 2017-18 international class, Pereira made his MLB debut on August 22, 2023. He has so far played 27 games in the regular season, scoring a .151 batting average with 10 RBIs from 97 at-bats. With a frequent occurrence of in-zone swing-and-misses and strikeouts as part of his gameplay, Pereira is known for his lofted right-handed stroke and above-average raw power.
Transitioning into the 2024 season, Pereira started with the Yankees’ AAA affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Out of 40 games, he has clocked a .265 average with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs.
A Positive Shift in Gameplay
Recently, Pereira tweaked his bat path in a bid to trim his strikeout rate and make a triumphant return to the Yankees’ team. The adjustment seems to have benefited him by affording more room for error and facilitating better contact with fastballs.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hitting coach, Trevor Amicone, acknowledged Pereira’s mental struggles during his initial tenure with the Yankees in 2023, but emphasized on the importance of these experiences for the future. Amid ongoing speculative chatter, Amicone expressed unwavering support for Pereira, stating, “Regardless of who it’s with, we want Everson to play in the big leagues and be really, really good.”
Regardless of how 2024 unfolds for Pereira, the prospect of his potential as a trade piece only attests to the promising talent he brings to the table.