Oswald Peraza‘s tenure in New York is over.
The Yankees traded the struggling infielder to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and quickly replaced him by trading Everson Pereira to the Rays for infielder Jose Caballero, the team announced Thursday. In return, the Bombers received minor-league outfielder Wilberson De Pena and international money.
The deal comes a week after the Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon in a deal with the Colorado Rockies. And with Anthony Volpe cemented as the Yankees’ starting shortstop, a potential deal seemed likely.
Peraza, though, said he “was not expecting” to be dealt when speaking with reporters on Thursday.
“At the same time, everything happens for a reason,” Peraza said through a translator. “I’m going to be forever grateful to the Yankees organization for giving me an opportunity to embark and start this career.”
Volpe’s defensive struggles — MLB leading 16 errors — led to the Yankees’ search for insurance and they landed on Caballero.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Volpe’s struggles didn’t impact the Caballero deal.
“I just felt like the flexibility he provides is a little bit more than what Peraza was providing for our manager. He’s obviously a dynamic player. I was sitting there watching the game last night and wishing that Boonie had a player that he could shoot as a pinch runner that could take a bag, for instance,” Cashman said. “So I just think he provides a lot of versatility and more choices and flexibility by his player profile than what Peraza was providing, and that’s why we were trying to find a way to make that fit. So it had nothing to do with a Volpe situation.”
Added Aaron Boone on his exchange with the new addition: “I said, ‘We’ve had some battles, but I like your game.’ I think he brings a lot to the table. He’s going to be a very useful player for us.”
The 28-year-old Caballero leads the MLB with 34 stolen bases. Caballero has played 140 innings at shortstop during his three-year career.
Caballero didn’t have to travel far after the trade news hit.
With the Yankees and Rays facing off at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, the speedy shortstop essentially switched clubhouses following the Bombers’ 7-4 victory.
He described the moment as a clash of feelings and said he “really enjoyed my time with the Tampa Bay Rays.” Caballero added he’s “always been a fan of the New York Yankees, so excited for the opportunity to switch sides and being part of the Yankees.”
The sudden deal involving two teams facing off against each other during a regular-season game punctuates the chaos that surrounds MLB Trade Deadline Day.
“You find yourself a little bit in-between when you’re doing that,” Caballero said through a translator about the sudden trade. “When you’re packing your bags and you’re moving across and to be quite honest everything happens so quickly. So you have to, kind of like, pick up and move over, switch teams, and now you got to give your best, and hopefully bring a championship to this city. [That’s] something I’m sure the fans been expecting for a long time.”
Originally Published: