Yankees Add Berti, Marlins Get Outfield Prospects In Three-Team Trade

Image credit: Jon Berti (Photo by Tom DiPace)

The Yankees and Rays figured out ways to fill holes for their Opening Day rosters, while the Marlins added a pair of outfield prospects in a March 27 three-team swap. Analysis of each player below.

YANKEES ACQUIRE

Jon Berti, SS/3B
Age: 34

Thanks to injuries to Oswald Peraza and D.J. Lemahieu, the Yankees were out of backup infielders. By acquiring Berti, the Yankees now have a viable backup infielder who can play shortstop and pretty much anywhere else. He’s played everywhere but catcher and first base during his six-year major league career. The Marlins asked him to be their regular shortstop at times in 2023, but he’s best as a versatile role player who is capable of filling in wherever is needed.

RAYS ACQUIRE

Ben Rortvedt, C
Age: 26

The Twins’ second round pick in the 2016 draft, Rortvedt was traded to the Yankees in the March 2022 trade that sent Josh Donaldson to New York and Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela to Minnesota. Rortvedt has long had a solid reputation as a defensive catcher, but he’s always struggled to hit. He’s a career .243/.323/.373 hitter in the minors, and in two stints in the majors, he’s a .146/.234/.255 hitter in the majors.

Rortvedt is out of options, but in coming to the Rays, he ends up in a near-perfect situation. Tampa Bay had only one catcher (Rene Pinto) on the 40-man roster. Alex Jackson, who isn’t currently on the 40-man roster, was slated to back up Pinto, but Rortvedt will now handle that spot with Jackson likely heading to Triple-A. If he can provide solid defense, the Rays will likely live with Rortvedt’s well below-average bat.

MARLINS ACQUIRE

John Cruz, OF
Age: 18

Cruz ranked as the Yankees’ No. 25 prospect coming into the season. He is a promising young lefthanded hitter with a chance to hit for average and power, but he will have to continue to clean up his approach to get to his potential. Cruz was one of the standouts on the Yankees’ loaded Florida Complex League club last year. His 10 home runs were second most in the league, and he also ranked in the league’s top five in hits, extra-base hits, slugging percentage and total bases. He’s a center fielder for now, but he may end up in the corners when he fully fills out.

Shane Sasaki, OF
Age: 23

Sasaki ranked as the Rays’ No. 21 prospect coming into 2024. He was left unprotected and unpicked in the most recent Rule 5 draft. He projects as a potential fourth outfielder whose well above average speed plays well on the bases and in the outfield. His lack of power is what will potentially limit him from an everyday role.