Yankees predicted to trade 22-year old RHP in 'difference-making deal'

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Pretty much every year when the MLB trade deadline rolls around, the New York Yankees are looking for an upgrade.

This season will be no different, and so the only question becomes which of their younger players are the Yanks willing to deal.

The likes of shortstop phenom George Lombard Jr. and flamethrower Carlos LaGrange seem unlikely to move.

If that's the case, next up on the list is Elmer Rodriguez. That's who MLB.com singles out in a new article on Friday about candidates to be dealt at the deadline.

"With the Yankees apparently unwilling to dangle George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange, Rodríguez could anchor a difference-making deal," MLB.com writes as part of its non-bylined article on Friday. "The right-hander has made four big league starts this season, pitching to a 4.76 ERA across 17 innings. Rodríguez, 22, was the return in the Carlos Narváez trade and is ranked as the club’s No. 3 prospect and No. 74 overall by MLB Pipeline."

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Rodriguez is an interesting case, because he has already made his MLB debut. That means there's probably a scenario where the Yanks hope he himself can help them down the stretch.

But New York probably has bigger needs elsewhere on the diamond, particularly at catcher. If Rodriguez were able to help get a guy like Rockies backstop Hunter Goodman, that could be a worthwhile usage of his value.

It's never easy to give up on younger players who your own organization developed, but the Yankees know it's often the path to the best possible MLB roster.

If Lombard and LaGrange are off limits, Rodriguez probably has to be available to have a chance of maximizing this trade deadline season.