The New York Yankees are eyeing infield depth as a priority ahead of the MLB trade deadline, but with the market lacking top-tier talent, their strategy remains a puzzle.
One intriguing proposal, floated by Bleacher Report’s Joel Rueter, suggests the Yankees trading top prospect Everson Pereira to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for utility infielder Luis Rengifo.
Rengifo has showcased versatility, handling second base, shortstop, and third base for the Angels, and boasts an impressive .305/.354/.413 slash line with a 116 OPS+. His 15 extra-base hits and 20 steals in 62 games add to his allure.
The potential move raises eyebrows, especially since Pereira is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Despite Rengifo’s .776 OPS and offensive upgrade potential compared to Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu, there are nuances to consider.
Rengifo leans towards contact hitting, currently batting .308, significantly above his career average of .252. However, deeper metrics like his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate rank in the lower percentiles, sparking some analytical caution.
Nonetheless, Rengifo’s 2024 performance could lift the Yankees’ infield game, potentially overshadowing Torres and LeMahieu. Whether sacrificing Pereira is prudent remains a hot topic for debate.
