MLB insider’s proposed Yankees-Angels trade could solve multiple issues for LAA

During a mid-game interview on Monday evening, Yankees manager Aaron Boone pretty plainly hinted that some third base business could still get done before Opening Day. Was he referencing something akin to this proposed Angels swap, courtesy of MLB insider Joel Sherman of the New York Post?

If the arrival of Yoán Moncada didn’t make infielder Luis Rengifo expendable from the Angels’ perspective, than the emergence of Christian Moore (aka the New Nolan Schanuel) just might’ve. 2024’s first-round pick is turning heads at Angels camp, and given LAA’s innate need to rush their top prospects in order to salvage … whatever this is, there’s a chance the time is nigh for them to move Rengifo, a bat-first infielder who hit .300 with a 116 OPS+ last year (though the quality of contact is … not what you want).

This is Rengifo’s walk year, and he’s making just $5.95 million this season. Does that qualify as “loot” or “not loot,” in Hal Steinbrenner’s eyes?

The money might make the difference between “deal” or “no deal” here, but it’s definitely worth calling The Banker over Sherman’s proposed trade of Trent Grisham, one of Ian Hamilton/Mark Leiter Jr., and one of Oswald Peraza/Yoendrys Gomez for Rengifo.

I do agree with Sherman’s logic why Rengifo might be available and why the Yankees match up well

Angels have Moncada at 3b and Christian Moore ready to take over 2b, they want to move Trout to LF and need RP’s https://t.co/cjnBEDyA3G pic.twitter.com/ir0XN7VR1g

Yankees-Angels trade for Luis Rengifo, per MLB insider Joel Sherman, makes sense

Grisham’s salary nearly matches; the Yankees would be adding a surplus of under $1 million of Rengifo money in a one-for-one swap. Add in $2 million of Leiter’s salary, and it begins to make even more sense. Both Gomez and Peraza are out of MLB options, and must make their next team (whether it’s the Yankees or Angels) or be exposed to waivers.

Can Rengifo handle third defensively? Do the Yankees have enough faith in their bullpen depth after losing Scott Effross, JT Brubaker, Jake Cousins and Clayton Beeter? Grisham might not be the most appealing fourth outfielder, but would the Yankees prefer … Oswaldo Cabrera? Everson Pereira is DH-only until midseason.

Trading for Rengifo solves one problem, but opens the door to many additional issues. Maybe Steinbrenner should’ve swapped Grisham’s money for something else entirely, then signed Jose Iglesias before the Padres could’ve, as Sherman also claimed this week that the Yankees should’ve considered themselves “fortunate” to have as a late-spring option.

Unfortunately, that option is gone, but Rengifo remains.