Empire Writes Back
Fansided

Yankees Daily Trade Deadline Profile: Jake Cave

By Sean Dyer

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 15: The hat and glasses of Andruw Jones
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 15: The hat and glasses of Andruw Jones /
facebooktwitterreddit

MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline is July 31st. As the New York Yankees appear to be in playoff contention, every day this month we will take a look at a player who could be involved in the Yankees’ deadline activity. These players will either be current Yankees who could be traded away or players from other organizations who New York could look to acquire for the playoff push.

We continue to look at packageable prospects who could net the Yankees a big league upgrade at the trade deadline.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 13: A giant American flag is stretched across the outfield during the performance of the National Anthem between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers during Game One of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 13, 2012 in the Bronx borough of New York City, New York. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 13: A giant American flag is stretched across the outfield during the performance of the National Anthem between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers during Game One of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 13, 2012 in the Bronx borough of New York City, New York. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images) /

OF Jake Cave, Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (AAA), Sell

Jake Cave is about as similar to Billy McKinney as you can get.

McKinney ranks 30th on MLB.com’s top Yankees prospects. Cave ranks 29th.

Both are corner outfielders for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Both would have a better chance of getting to the major leagues with another club.

Cave and McKinney are both candidates to be packaged in a deal for a major league first baseman or starting pitcher at the trade deadline.

More from New York Yankees

The Yankees lost Jake Cave to the Cincinnati Reds in the 2015 Rule 5 Draft, but he was returned to New York when he didn’t make the Reds’ major league roster.

Cave has hit at every minor league level. The Yankees’ glut of outfielders is the reason he has started the past few seasons at Double-A.

Since his promotion to Triple-A this year, Cave has hit .361 with nine home runs and 24 RBI in 33 games.

Power has never been Cave’s game but the 24-year-old can hit for average and is solid defensively.

The Reds took Cave 2nd overall in the Rule 5 because they thought he could hit. For most teams, Cave could be at least a fourth outfielder.

The Yankees have so many outfielders that Jacoby Ellsbury has recently been demoted to a backup role. There’s clearly no room for Jake Cave.

Finding Room for Cave in Oakland

The Oakland Athletics, however, could give Jake Cave playing time as soon as this year.

The A’s have just one outfielder in their top 16 prospects. That outfielder is Lazaro Armenteros, who is just 18 years old and not expected in the majors until 2021.

As far as their major league roster goes, Oakland has Jaycob Brugman playing center field. They also have Khris Davis, Matt Joyce, and Rajai Davis rotating in the corners.

If Oakland were to trade first baseman Yonder Alonso to the Yankees for a package including Jake Cave, the Athletics could move Ryon Healy to first base, make Khris Davis their everyday designated hitter, and play Cave every day in left field.

The A’s have spent much of 2017 moving on from veterans and playing the kids. Matt Joyce and Rajai Davis, who is a free agent at year’s end, are not a part of Oakland’s future. Jake Cave, however, could be.

Next: Yankees Daily Trade Deadline Profile: Billy McKinney

Moving Jake Cave in a prospect package to Oakland in exchange for Yonder Alonso would help both franchises move towards their respective goals.

Our next profile will be a starting pitcher in the Yankees system who could be packaged with Cave at the trade deadline.

Home/New York Yankees