During a mid-game interview on Monday evening, Yankees manager Aaron Boone strongly hinted that third base adjustments might still be in play before Opening Day. Could he have been referring to the trade proposal from MLB insider Joel Sherman of the New York Post?
If Yoán Moncada’s arrival wasn’t enough to make infielder Luis Rengifo expendable for the Angels, then Christian Moore’s emergence (also known as the “New Nolan Schanuel”) might be. The 2024 first-round pick has been making waves at Angels camp, and given the team’s tendency to fast-track top prospects, the timing might be right for them to move Rengifo—a bat-first infielder who posted a .300 average with a 116 OPS+ last year, though his quality of contact has raised concerns.
As Rengifo enters his contract year with a $5.95 million salary, the question remains—would Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner consider that a worthwhile investment?
The financial aspect could determine whether this trade happens, but Sherman’s proposed deal—sending Trent Grisham, either Ian Hamilton or Mark Leiter Jr., and one of Oswald Peraza or Yoendrys Gomez to the Angels in exchange for Rengifo—is worth considering.
Bobby Milone (@BobbyMilone29) highlighted the trade logic on social media, stating:
“I agree with Sherman’s reasoning. The Angels have Moncada at third, Moore ready to take over second, they want to move Trout to left field, and they need relievers.”
Yankees-Angels Trade for Luis Rengifo: Does It Make Sense?
Grisham’s salary nearly matches Rengifo’s, meaning the Yankees would take on less than $1 million in additional payroll in a straight swap. Adding Leiter’s $2 million salary could further balance the deal. Meanwhile, both Gomez and Peraza are out of MLB options and must either make their new team’s roster or be exposed to waivers.
But can Rengifo handle third base defensively? Do the Yankees trust their bullpen depth after losing key relievers like Scott Effross, JT Brubaker, Jake Cousins, and Clayton Beeter? Grisham might not be the ideal fourth outfielder, but are the Yankees more comfortable with Oswaldo Cabrera instead? With Everson Pereira limited to DH duties until midseason, the trade solves one issue while potentially creating others.
Would it have been better for Steinbrenner to allocate Grisham’s money differently—perhaps to sign José Iglesias before the Padres did? As Sherman recently suggested, the Yankees should have considered themselves “fortunate” to have had him as a late-spring option.
That option is gone, but Rengifo remains available.
