Yankees, Lacking Confidence in Refsnyder, Scouting Peraza

Rob Refsnyder better watch out because it sounds like the New York Yankees are in the market for a young second baseman.

The Bronx Bombers have made it known to the Atlanta Braves that they are interested in acquiring top prospect Jose Peraza, according to George King of the New York Post. Per King’s article, the Yankees sent a scout to Gwinnett, Ga. recently to watch the 21-year-old.

Peraza, who will be 22 by the end of April, is currently playing at Triple-A. Ranked the 54th-best prospect by Baseball America and the 38th by MLB.com heading into the season, the Yankees could view Peraza as their potential second baseman of the future. The right-handed batter hit a jaw-dropping .339 in 2014 between high Single-A and Double-A while swiping 60 bases. Not much of a power hitter, Peraza has just five career home runs in 350 minor league games. Instead, he relies on speed and contact.

A natural shortstop, the Braves moved the Venezuelan native to second base given the fact that Andrelton Simmons is one of the best in the game.

The Yankees’ interest in Peraza is bad news for Refsnyder. The 24-year-old had a breakout season in 2014 while playing at Double and Triple-A. He hit a combined .314, belting 38 doubles, 14 home runs and 63 RBI.

The stellar campaign left many thinking Refsnyder could break spring training with the major league club, but his fielding at second base proved to be a major concern. Those concerns have been validated, as Refsnyder, once an outfielder, already has three errors on the young season.

With the Yankees showing interest in Peraza, it seems clear that New York is not confident in their own farmhand’s potential to be an everyday big league second baseman.

It is very much up in the air if a Peraza deal can get done with the Braves. King writes that the Yankees’ package could be centered around catcher Gary Sanchez, but it is not clear as to whether or not it would be enough. It makes little sense for the Braves to surrender their rising prospect for anything that is not overwhelming, as the team is currently rebuilding. With that said, the Yankees would be foolish to move their own top prospects – Greg Bird, Aaron Judge and Luis Severino – for an unproven, minor league talent.

At this point, no trade is close and it’s quite possible, if not likely, that nothing happens at all. However, simply the news that the Yanks are interested in Peraza sends a very clear message.

The Yankees do no think Refsnyder is the answer.