Why should the Yankees trade Brian McCann? One Name: Gary Sanchez.

Brian McCann (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports )

Before the MLB’s trade deadline on August 1, Brian McCann was talked about as yet another veteran that the Yankees could possibly move in order to open up a spot on the team to bring up another prospect.  That prospect was 23-year-old catcher, Gary Sanchez. The Yankees had already traded away three of their best players: Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, and Carlos Beltran. Rumors swirled about moving McCann too, but it never happened.

The Yankees have made it clear that their goal is to get younger and build up their farm system. Trading Miller, Chapman, and Beltran allowed the Yankees to acquire big-time prospects in outfielders Clint Frazier and Billy McKinney, shortstop Gleyber Torres, and pitchers Ben Heller, Dillon Tate, and Justus Sheffield. This was a fantastic haul. According to Baseball America, Frazier and Torres are both top 100 prospects, with Frazier ranking 21^st and Torres ranking 27^th. This adds to the Yankees other top 100 prospects in shortstop Jorge Mateo (ranking 19^th), the aforementioned Sanchez (36^th), outfielder Aaron Judge (42^nd), and pitcher James Kaprelian (99^th).  The Yankees now have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball.

Now, the Yankees not only traded away three of their top players because they were looking to add more prospects (although that was the main reason), but they also wanted to create space on the roster for these youngsters to be called up from the minors. The Yankees even released Alex Rodriguez, despite still owing him $21 million, just so they could open up another roster spot. They called up Sanchez, Judge, and first baseman Tyler Austin after the trade deadline. It won’t be long before the Yankees get rid of other veterans like McCann, outfielder Brett Gardner, and pitcher C.C. Sabathia. First baseman Mark Teixeira is retiring after this season as well. The youth movement has officially started this season, and the Yankees now have a great chance to be a true World Series contender within the next two or three years.

Brian McCann has been serving as the team’s designated hitter since Sanchez has been called up, which is fine. But the Yankees need to move him now, while he still has value. The MLB waiver trade deadline is on August 31 and the Yankees had put McCann on waivers and he went through unclaimed. The Yankees are free to trade him to any team if a deal can be made.

Normally losing a veteran bat hurts, especially since the team is technically still in the Wild Card race at 65-61, but the Yankees aren’t serious about competing this season. Even if the Yankees wanted to make the playoffs, it’s still possible and they have actually played better since trading away their all-stars and calling up the youngsters. They’ve gone 13-9 since the trade deadline and a big reason for that has been the production of Gary Sanchez.

Sanchez is the biggest reason why the Yankees should have no problem trading McCann. Sanchez has already stolen away the everyday catching job and since he’s been called up, he’s been absolutely dominant. After 21 games, he’s slashing .389/.450/.847 with 9 HR’s, 16 RBI, and 14 R’s. He’s also hit six doubles and his OPS sits at 1.297, which would top David Ortiz for the best in baseball over the course of a whole season. If Sanchez produced like this for an entire year, he would be by far the best hitter in baseball. No player with enough at-bats to qualify has a better average and on-base percentage than Sanchez. His slugging percentage would also top Ortiz for the best in the majors. His pace for home runs would be 69 for a whole season. Not only has he been an absolutely dominant hitter, he has been fantastic behind the plate. He has just one passed ball and has yet to record an error. He has also shown an incredible arm by throwing out five of the eight runners who have attempted to steal on him.

Sanchez is just 23 years old and is clearly the Yankees catcher for the immediate and long-term future. There is no need for Brian McCann at this point and if the Yankees can get something for him, they better pull the trigger. The youth movement is on in the Bronx and no veteran on the Yankees roster is safe.