Yankees Announce Trade Before Twins Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 4:28 PM ET

The New York Yankees’ offense has been incredible in 2025, averaging 5.2 runs per game—the best in MLB. Although the AL East division title is likely out of reach, the Yankees are looking to capture a wild card spot and attempt to make another deep postseason run in October.

A huge reason for the team’s offensive success has been the emergence of Jose Caballero, who has taken strides forward at the plate while teammate Anthony Volpe has struggled. Caballero has frequently started at shortstop while Volpe tends to injury and underperformance, although Caballero does have the positional versatility to play all over the field.

Over his first 33 games with the Yankees, the 28-year-old has posted a .270 batting average, .356 on-base percentage, .848 OPS, three home runs and 13 steals—giving New York an elite base-stealing threat and adding depth to an already potent lineup.

Caballero did not start the season with New York, but instead began it with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was shipped off to the Yankees at the trade deadline in exchange for Everson Pereira and a player to be named later (PTBNL) or cash considerations.

Ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, the Yankees announced that they had completed the trade with Tampa Bay, sending minor leaguer Marshall Toole to the Rays as the PTBNL.

The team wrote on X, “The New York Yankees have traded OF Marshall Toole to the Tampa Bay Rays as the player to be named later in the 7/31/25 trade in which the Yankees acquired INF/OF José Caballero in exchange for OF Everson Pereira.”

The New York Yankees have traded OF Marshall Toole to the Tampa Bay Rays as the player to be named later in the 7/31/25 trade in which the Yankees acquired INF/OF José Caballero in exchange for OF Everson Pereira.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 17, 2025

Toole is a 22-year-old outfielder whom New York selected in the 15th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The left-handed prospect has performed well through his first two years with the organization, batting .298 with an .885 OPS in 113 games.

However, Toole remains a project at his age and has only reached High-A ball in the minors. Pereira, the other player Tampa Bay received, has appeared in 19 games at the big-league level this year but has struggled, batting .154 with a .481 OPS.

Given the level of production Caballero has provided the Yankees, the Rays may have made the mistake of dealing the utility man too early—especially since Caballero has multiple seasons left of team control.

With Toole now headed to Tampa Bay, the Rays are betting on their ability to develop talent and perhaps salvage dealing Caballero for a light package.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: