In a surprising move, the New York Yankees have traded former top prospect Estevan Florial to the Cleveland Guardians. The Yankees acquired right-hander Cody Morris in exchange for the outfielder. This trade brings an end to Florial’s tenure with the Yankees, who signed him in 2015.
Once considered the Yankees’ top prospect in 2019 by MLB.com, Florial’s career has taken a downward trajectory in recent years. He dropped to sixth in 2020, then to tenth in 2021, and finally plummeted to thirtieth in 2022. This decline in prospects’ rankings is a clear reflection of his underwhelming performance on the field.
Despite making his big league debut in August 2020, Florial has had limited playing time in the majors. Over four seasons, he has only played in 48 major league games, batting .209 with one home run, 11 RBIs, and six stolen bases. These numbers clearly illustrate his struggles to make an impact at the highest level of the game.
While Florial’s major league numbers leave much to be desired, his performance in the minor leagues has shown promise. In 101 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year, he hit .284 with 28 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. These impressive numbers indicate that Florial has the potential to be a solid player, but he has yet to translate his success to the major league level.
The Yankees acquired right-hander Cody Morris from the Cleveland Guardians as part of this trade deal. Morris, 27, made his big league debut in September 2022 and had a 6.75 ERA in six appearances with the Guardians this year. While his numbers may not be impressive, Morris possesses a diverse arsenal of pitches, including a fastball, cutter, curveball, and changeup.
One of the reasons behind the Yankees’ decision to trade Florial is their surplus of outfielders. The acquisition of Juan Soto and Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres, as well as Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox, created a crowded outfield situation. In order to streamline their roster and address other areas of need, the Yankees made the tough decision to part ways with Florial.
For Estevan Florial, this trade marks the end of his time with the New York Yankees. While he showcased potential in the minor leagues, his underwhelming performance in the majors ultimately led to his departure. The Yankees hope that the acquisition of Cody Morris will prove to be a beneficial addition to their pitching staff. Only time will tell if this trade will prove to be a wise decision for both teams involved.
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