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New York Yankees Panic Button: Trade Packages for Dellin Betances

By Sean Dyer

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 16: Dellin Betances #68 of the New York Yankees reacts as he is pulled from the game after walking the first two batters of the ninth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 16, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 16: Dellin Betances #68 of the New York Yankees reacts as he is pulled from the game after walking the first two batters of the ninth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 16, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 03: Closer Kelvin Herrera #40 and catcher Cam Gallagher #36 of the Kansas City Royals celebrate with teammates after a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 3, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 03: Closer Kelvin Herrera #40 and catcher Cam Gallagher #36 of the Kansas City Royals celebrate with teammates after a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 3, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Kelvin Herrera has been one of the game’s top setup men for quite a while, best known for being the shutdown seventh inning man on the 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals. Pitching in front of Wade Davis and Greg Holland, Herrera had a 1.41 ERA in 2014 and 2.71 ERA in 2015. After Holland sat out 2016 with Tommy John surgery, Herrera moved into the eighth inning role, pitching to a 2.75 ERA and added 12 saves. The Royals traded Davis to the Chicago Cubs before the 2017 season and Herrera has been the closer ever since.

A free agent at the end of the season, Herrera has stepped up in his walk year. Through his first 15 appearances (13.2 IP), Herrera has a minuscule 0.66 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and seven saves in eight opportunities.

The Royals are headed toward a rather significant rebuild, so trading Herrera at the deadline is likely a given. They will also have many teams calling them so the Yankees will have to make a significant offer.

When Dellin Betances is on, he’s every bit as good as Herrera. The Royals would have the rest of the 2018 season and the first half of the 2019 season to fix Betances and could then trade him for a major haul at next year’s deadline.

Thairo Estrada is the Yankees No. 10 prospect according to MLB.com but is simply blocked from getting to the Bronx. Estrada is a .283 career hitter in the minor leagues including hitting .301 in Double-A last season. He can play second, third, and shortstop, but Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, and Didi Gregorius aren’t going anywhere, making it unlikely he makes it to the majors with the Yankees.

Kansas City has one of the worst farm systems in baseball and Estrada would likely be a top-five prospect for them. He could become their shortstop of the future and a piece to rebuild around.

Giovanny Gallegos is the Yankees No. 22 prospect who has been great in the minor leagues but hasn’t taken advantage of his big league opportunities. Gallegos has a career 2.83 ERA in the minors but a 4.87 ERA in 20.1 major league innings. Gallegos was particularly dominant in the minors in 2016 (1.27 ERA, 106 K in 78 IP) and 2017 (2.08 ERA, 69 K in 43.1 IP). The Royals could give Gallegos the opportunity to work out his kinks in a major league bullpen as they rebuild.

The New York Yankees bullpen gets scarier and the Kansas City Royals get a trio of players to help kick-start their rebuild.

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