Yankees Daily Trade Deadline Profile: Estevan Florial

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.

There’s one prospect flying up mid-season rankings in the Yankees system. New York fans may not see him in pinstripes, however, as he could be on the move at this year’s trade deadline.

MIAMI, FL – JULY 09: The World Team stands for the National Anthem prior to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game against the U.S. Team at Marlins Park on July 9, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

OF Estevan Florial, Charleston RiverDogs (A), Sell

After starting the season outside of the Yankees top 30 prospects list, Estevan Florial is now New York’s fifth-best farmhand and the 91st-best prospect in all of baseball.

Florial’s meteoric rise can be credited to his season at the plate. The 19-year-old is hitting .299 with 11 HR and 41 RBI. Florial also has 20 doubles and 16 stolen bases.

The biggest issue for the center fielder is his strikeout rate. Florial has been punched out 118 times in 328 at-bats this year. He has been able to work the count for 40 free passes, but the strikeouts stand out as a bit of a concern.

Florial’s big first half of 2017 earned him a spot in this year’s MLB Futures Game, signaling MLB’s recognition of his talent.

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Florial is still a few years away from the big leagues. However, other teams are already trying to make him a part of their future plans.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi has reported that the Oakland A’s are interested in Estevan Florial as a potential centerpiece in a Sonny Gray trade.

If Florial were the top prospect heading West in a Sonny Gray deal, Yankees fans should be happy.

Gray would sit atop the Yankees rotation for the next two and a half years. The 27-year-old would also provide security if CC Sabathia and/or Michael Pineda leave in free agency at the end of this season. He would be a second “ace” in New York, joining Luis Severino after his 2017 All-Star campaign.

Losing a young center fielder as talented as Florial hurts, especially after trading Blake Rutherford to the White Sox last week.

However, considering the Yankees’ glut of young outfielders, getting a controllable starting pitcher for a prospect package centered around an outfielder that strikes out at such a high clip should be chalked up as a good deal.

If Brian Cashman can work out a deal for Sonny Gray without Florial being involved, or New York gets outbid for Gray altogether, Yankees fans can look forward to Estevan Florial roaming center field in the Bronx in the post-Jacoby Ellsbury era. Of course, Yankees fans are trying to start that era sooner rather than later.

Next: Yankees Daily Trade Deadline Profile: Thairo Estrada

We are going to change things up a bit with our next profile. Instead of profiling an individual player, we are going to put together a few packages that the Yankees could offer other teams at the trade deadline.

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