The New York Yankees were active at the trade deadline as they solidified the bullpen, but also brought in more defensive first players.
The Yankees acquired José Caballero from the Tampa Bay Rays, who can be a backup shortstop and can also be used as a pinch-runner. After the trade went down, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he’s excited to use Caballero all over the diamond and in late-game situations.
“I talked to him for a second,” Boone said. “I said, ‘We’ve had some battles, but I like your game.’ So I think he brings a lot to the table and I think he’s going to be a very useful player for us, just a lot of different things he can do on a diamond and provide a lot of position flexibility.”
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The Yankees dealt infielder Everson Pereira and a player to be named later for Caballero. Caballero will be an impactful player for the Yankees, and he’s excited to be in New York.
“I really enjoyed my time with the Tampa Bay Rays,” Caballero said. “I really enjoyed taking advantage of everything that they offer you as a player. So all of that runs through your mind. At the same time, I’m getting a great opportunity with the New York Yankees. I’ve always been a fan of the Yankees.”
Caballero adds plenty of speed and defensive flexibility to the Yankees’ bench. He’s hitting .226 with 2 home runs and 27 RBIs, along with stolen bases. He’s also under team control for another four seasons after this year and can play second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions.
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