Yankees Major Trade For Potential Postseason Bench Weapon In Rare August Swap With Blue Jays

Cam Eden is heading to the Yankees’ system in a post-trade deadline swap

On Friday, the New York Yankees announced the acquisition of minor-league outfielder Cam Eden from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. As Mike Axisa recently explained, teams can still make trades after the trade deadline as long as certain conditions are met, like the player being under a minor-league contract without any time on the 40-man roster that season.

At 26, Eden qualifies for this deal despite debuting in the majors with the Blue Jays last September (ironically against the Yankees). After the postseason, he was sent back to the minors and hasn’t been part of the 40-man roster since.

The Yankees likely see Eden as a potential addition for September roster expansion. This season, he posted a .198/.299/.322 batting line over 91 Triple-A games, and his overall minor-league career OPS stands at .677. The Yankees are particularly interested in his speed; he’s stolen 153 bases on 173 attempts, giving him an impressive 88% success rate. In theory, he could serve as a valuable asset in critical playoff situations.

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With Major League Baseball’s recent rule changes making it easier to steal bases, having a dedicated speedster on the team seems like a smart move.

To be eligible for the postseason, players must be part of the organization by 11:59:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. Therefore, if the Yankees choose to include Eden on their roster, he will be able to participate in the playoffs.

As of Friday, the Yankees had a record of 68-48, tying them with the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the American League East. They are set to kick off a weekend series against the defending World Series champions, the Texas Rangers.