Cardinals Interested In Intriguing Yankees Prospect; Should New York Make Move?

Should the Yankees deal one of their intriguing young prospects to St. Louis?

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees are looking to add ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline and to do so they may need to part with an intriguing prospect or two. 

One team that reportedly could end up being an interesting trade partner with the Yankees is the St. Louis Cardinals. New York is looking to buy and the Cardinals are going to sell. The Yankees have shown interest in Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson and pitcher Jack Flaherty and if they want to get a deal done, they likely will have to deal at least one young pitcher. St. Louis reportedly has shown interest in Yankees No. 13 prospect Clayton Beeter, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.

"From the Dodgers for (Lance Lynn) (option for 2024) and former Cardinals teammate Joe Kelly, the White Sox received three players: outfielder Trayce Thompson, minor-league Jordan Leasure, and starting pitching prospect Nick Nastrini, LA’s 10th-ranked prospect," Goold said. "A right-hander at Class AA, he has 85 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings. That is the profile of a pitcher the Cardinals seek — but closer to the majors, if not already in them.

"That has been the appeal of Yankees Class AAA right-hander Clayton Beeter and why the Cardinals have interest in Seattle’s Logan Gilbert, who is likely to command a high-ceiling return."

Bleeter currently is New York's 13th-ranked prospect and although he likely could help out the Yankees and is projected to make his debut this season, a deal for someone like Carlson or Flaherty would fill more of a hole immediately. The Yankees have a lot of work to do to gain ground in the standings and make the postseason and a big deal ahead of the trade deadline may be what the club needs. New York certainly should consider a deal with the Cardinals before the August 1 trade deadline.