Bronx Bomber Ball

  The Yankees sitting back at the start of free agency has been, in a word, infuriating.   Every winter, Yankees fans around the globe fantasize about the potential injection of new talent to a team that fell short of it's goal the previous season.  After making just a Wild Card Game appearance in 2021 and losing badly to the hated rival Boston Red Sox, this offseason was expected to be no exception.  Immediately, fans began to reminisce about major offseasons past like 2008 when the Yankees flexed their financial might and brought home a championship the following season.  To this point, that has not been the case.

  The Yankees shuffled their 40-man roster last night in advance of December 8th’s Rule 5 Draft, saying goodbye to some familiar faces to make way for five prospects. Outfielder Everson Pereira (the organization’s No. 13 prospect according to MLB Pipeline), infielder Oswaldo Cabrera (#16), and pitchers Ron Marinaccio, J.P. Sears, and Stephen Ridings were all protected ahead of the 6 PM deadline. In turn, the club designated Clint Frazier, Tyler Wade, and Rougned Odor for assignment, while trading Nick Nelson and newly-selected catcher Donny Sands to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor leaguers T.J. Rumfield (1B) and Joel Valdez (LHP). Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Pereira, a right-handed centerfielder, had a very strong year at the plate between three levels of the Yanks’ system. In just 188 at-bats, the 20-year-old cranked 20 home runs and drove in 57 RBI -- good for a .303/.398/.686 clip -- along with nine stolen bases. He finished the season with High-A Hudson Valley, a