Yankees Could Trade Ben Rice After 'Off Limits' Update, Per Report
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
As usual, the New York Yankees will be looking to make some splashy upgrades before the trade deadline.
After reaching the World Series last year and then replacing Juan Soto with several high-profile additions in the offseason, the team still seems to be a few pieces short of returning. Primarily, they are expected to target a third base upgrade to replace Oswald Peraza, some bullpen reinforcement and perhaps a starting pitcher as well.
But as the Yankees look to bring in some additional talent, there are two controllable pieces they are reportedly unwilling to part with.
"The Yankees will not be trading top prospects Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr.," Jim Bowden reported for The Athletic. "I'm told both are off limits."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees looks on during the eighth inning of the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 03, 2025...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 03: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees looks on during the eighth inning of the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on June 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by) More
Satloff/Getty
The Yankees would have some less promising prospects to pick from. But Yankees insider Joel Sherman suggested they could instead build a package around big leaguer Ben Rice.
"Multiple teams have been inquiring about the viability of Ben Rice as a catcher, which gives a window into how the Yankees could pull off a larger trade before the deadline," Sherman wrote for the New York Post. "But one way to make a bigger trade and/or protect the farm system would be to use Rice in a deal rather than strictly prospects."
Though he might not have the ceiling of some of the Yankees' best prospects, Rice would be hard to part with. He is slashing .232/.323/.468 with 15 homers so far this season, a sharp improvement from his debut campaign. And he could be seen internally as the heir to pending free agent Paul Goldschmidt at first base.
But if the Yankees are able to bolster an area or two of greater need with a package built around Rice, it seems there is some interest out there in acquiring him.
More MLB: Pirates Starter Tagged As Best Available By MLB Insider As Deadline Nears
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
2 hours ago
Rookie Agustín Ramírez hits two solo homers as the Marlins beat the Yankees 2-0
MIAMI -- Rookie Agustín Ramírez homered twice for the only runs of the game and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Yankees 2-0 on Saturday. Eury Pérez pitched six innings of two-hit ball as the Marlins won their fourth straight and clinched the series against the Yankees following Friday's 13-12 series-opening win. After experiencing problems with his pitchcom device that caused three brief delays in the first inning, Pérez (4-3) struck out six and walked three in his 88-pitch outing. Relievers Ronny Henriquez and Tyler Phillips followed Pérez with perfect innings before Calvin Faucher retired the three batters he faced in the ninth for his 11th save. Miami has won six consecutive series and is 29-14 since June 13. The Marlins struck quickly when Ramírez connected off Yankees starter Cam Schlittler in the first. Ramírez drove a fastball 421 feet into the left-center field seats for his 16th homer. Ramírez hit another solo drive against Schlittler (1-2) in the fourth. Making his fourth major league start since being promoted from Triple-A on July 9, Schlittler allowed two runs and four hits while striking out six in five innings. Saturday's announced attendance of 34,645 surpassed the Marlins' previous season-home high of 32,299 in Friday's opener against New York. Pérez struck out Ryan McMahon and retired Anthony Volpe on a groundout after he allowed a one-out double to Ben Rice and walked Paul Goldschmidt in the fifth. Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers had his sixth assist of the season when he threw out Trent Grisham at the plate as he attempted to score from second on Giancarlo Stanton's single in the first. RHP Luis Gil will make his season debut when he starts the series finale for the Yankees on Sunday. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year has been sidelined since spring training because of a lat strain. The Marlins will go with RHP Edward Cabrera (4-5, 3.35).
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Washington Post
Rookie Agustin Ramirez hits two solo homers as the Marlins beat the Yankees 2-0
MIAMI — Rookie Agustín Ramírez homered twice for the only runs of the game and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Yankees 2-0 on Saturday. Eury Pérez pitched six innings of two-hit ball as the Marlins won their fourth straight and clinched the series against the Yankees following Friday's 13-12 series-opening win.
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Kyle Tucker Predicted To Betray Cubs In Free Agency After Deadline Letdown
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Chicago Cubs went all in to win this season when they swung a monster trade for expiring superstar Kyle Tucker in the offseason. While sitting atop the league, the Cubs went into the trade deadline with some massive holes on the roster, but ultimately didn't make many moves worth mentioning. This disastrous game plan could haunt the team in multiple ways. FanSided's Chris Landers recently suggested the Cubs' lack of urgency at the trade deadline could cause Tucker to bolt in free agency at the end of the season. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 30: Kyle Tucker #30 of the Chicago Cubs points toward the dugout after hitting a double scoring two runs in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field... MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 30: Kyle Tucker #30 of the Chicago Cubs points toward the dugout after hitting a double scoring two runs in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 30, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. More"And then the pitching injuries began, and the Milwaukee Brewers got hot, and now Chicago finds itself in a dogfight for the division," Landers wrote. "How did president Jed Hoyer respond to that pressure? By laying an egg at the deadline, acquiring a back-end arm in Michael Soroka, a utility man in Willi Castro, and a middle reliever in Andrew Kittredge. None of them are bad players or fits, but it's hardly the sort of statement fans were looking for. "And it could be what drives Tucker elsewhere come free agency this winter. Maybe it all works out and the Cubs do, in fact, get to or win the World Series. But this was hardly the best first impression for Hoyer to make, if he wanted to convince Tucker that the North Side was the place that would put him in the best position to compete for championships." Tucker is likely to receive a monster contract worth north of $350 million in free agency. The Cubs should be one of the top suitors in the sweepstakes, as well as the other big market clubs. If the money ends up pretty similar across the board, there's a chance that Tucker looks back at the deadline with some disdain for the Cubs' front office, especially if it comes back to haunt the team in the postseason. More MLB: Aaron Boone Breaks Silence After Yankees Release Marcus Stroman
