Yankees predicted to trade former first-round pick for bullpen, Carlos Lagrange reasons

Yankees predicted to trade former first-round pick for bullpen, Carlos Lagrange reasons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For the most part, the New York Yankees stood pat with their bullpen during the offseason.

They made minor moves, like re-signing Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn. The Yankees also made a trade for right-hander Angel Chivilli from the Colorado Rockies, but he's more of a long-term project.

It could benefit the AL East club to address its reliever situation, something that is not viewed as a strong aspect of the roster. ESPN's David Schoenfield predicts the Yankees will trade from their minor league depth to acquire a reliever.

"Yes, yes ... Yankees fans want a new third baseman ... a new shortstop ... a new center fielder ... relax. The offense will pick up," Schoenfield wrote Monday. "Maybe one of those positions will need addressing, but the bullpen still looks like the spot most likely to need help, although the Yankees can move a couple of starters there once Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole return."

The player Schoenfield tabs as New York's most likely trade candidate is right-handed pitching prospect . Hess is a former first-round pick from Alabama and owns a 3.52 ERA through his first two starts of the season with Double-A Somerset.