The Yankees and Diamondbacks announced an agreement on a trade sending outfielder Tim Locastro from Arizona to New York in exchange for minor league right-hander Keegan Curtis.
Locastro, 28, is one of the fastest players in the Majors and gives the Yankees a potential outfield option, though he’s in the midst of a rough year at the plate. After slashing .290/.395/.464 in 82 plate appearances with the D-backs in 2020, Locastro is hitting just .178/.271/.220 in 133 trips to the plate so far in 2021.
Overall, the fleet-footed Locastro a career .234/.339/.324 hitter who has gone 31-for-34 in stolen base attempts. Locastro strikes out at a below-average clip but doesn’t walk as much as one might expect; rather, the source of his OBP is a penchant for getting plunked (as explored at length and in entertaining fashion in one of the many indispensable videos at Foolish Baseball). For a player with Locastro’s speed, getting to first base by any means necessary is particularly valuable, as he’s always a threat to swipe a base.
It’s not the impact move most Yankees fans would hope to see with the their first move of deadline season, but Locastro gives the club a strong glove and some needed depth. Aaron Hicks has already been lost for the season, and fellow outfielder Clint Frazier is now undergoing testing after exiting last night’s game due to dizziness. Locastro can still be optioned for the remainder of the 2021 season and is controllable through the 2024 campaign via arbitration.
For the D-backs, Locastro figures to be the first of several players traded between now and July 30. They’ve been MLB’s worst club by a wide margin and are generally expected to be willing to listen on veteran players as they look to restock the farm system.
The 25-year-old Curtis, while not regarded as one of the Yankees’ top prospects, does give the Snakes an interesting arm to add to the upper levels of their system. Since being selected in the 22nd round of the 2018 draft, Curtis has tallied 65 2/3 innings out of the bullpen and pitched to a 3.29 ERA across three levels in the Yankees’ minor league ranks. He’s currently at the Double-A level, where he’s posted a 3.94 ERA while punching out 27 of the 69 batters he’s faced (39.1 percent) against seven walks (10.1 percent).
Lindsey Adler of The Athletic (Twitter link) first reported the terms of the agreement.
DarkSide830
surely the D-Backs are getting something else, right?
Sideline Redwine
For a below-average player on the worst team in years? Am I missing something, or is this sarcasm?
TikTok Influencer
“Locastro, 28, is one of the fastest players in the Majors and gives the Yankees … the impact move most Yankees fans would hope to see”
Seems like a steal for the Yankees
Dustyslambchops23
Can’t steal first
ncaachampillini
Javy Baez would find a way.
FletcherFan66
Watch the video Steve linked in the article. Timmy can, in fact, steal first
Raps902420
@Dustylambchops23 actually he can steal first…
JoeBrady
ikTok Influencer
Yankees … the impact move most Yankees fans would hope to see”
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If you are going to change something that the author wrote, you should acknowledge that you are changing it.
Poster formerly known as . . .
@TikTok Influencer
Gee, that’s clever editing. Let’s see what the actual quote is:
“It’s not the impact move most Yankees fans would hope to see”
A right-handed Tyler Wade is definitely not the impact move most Yankees fans would hope to see. If the Yankees were a good team, he’d be a reasonable addition to the bench to serve as a pinch runner. But the Yankees are not a good team.
opranger
All run and no bat!
miltpappas
Kept Billy Hamilton’s bank account healthy all these years.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Where’s Billy Hamilton when you need him? Totally ineffectual trade.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Can he pitch?
Selkies
He’s with the South Siders. Actually having a fine year, too.
larry48
Locastro sucks, he can’t hit and is average at best as an outfielder. He is automatic out and Diamondback has too many automatic outs. Even if the new outfielder hits 240 it will be a big improvement for diamondback. Locastro can only run and makes dumb baseball decisions on the bases like getting thrown out at home when he ran through a stop sign and was out by 30ft
DarkSide830
controllable though 2024 for cheap and an above average 4th OF as recently as last year. solid defender and fast as heck. Curtis is nothing, if we are honest, in comparison.
seamaholic 2
Curtis has a big arm (as his K rate would indicate) and could definitely be a MLB middle reliever some day very soon (like now, in Arizona at least). Locastro is awful. His 2020 was a total short sample fluke. He’ll be a late inning defensive sub and occasional pinch runner.
YankeesBleacherCreature
In only a 16 IP sample size in AA.. I’m all for trades working out both ways.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
With all the pitching needs, how does this justify for a pinch runner on the squad? How many times have announcers said a team only has 4 bench players? Including an extra catcher if your 1st string catcher goes down?
CalcetinesBlancos
Yanks are throwing in a big window air conditioner as well.
skim milk
I heard there was a vcr on the mix was well
FredMcGriff for the HOF
So basically the Yanks just traded for a similar player to Tauchman who Cashman traded for Peralta?
YankeesBleacherCreature
That’s typically how it works making moves for depth pieces under 40-man roster considerations.
emac22
Only when you trade backups you don’t have enough depth to trade & fill holes in the starting lineup with backups.
Neither is ideal.
Darryl Rose
Tauchman is a better career hitter and significantly slower so NO.
bravesfan
Seems like a fair deal to me…
DarkSide830
just feels like ARI sold low
Hudson6
WTH? How do the D-Backs expect to keep competing for the NLWest without Locastro?
Jaa1968
They’re not competing no time soon
Ully
That will add some much needed speed to that lineup.
Joe says...
Well the bar isn’t very high. I think I could add speed to this lineup.
Darryl Rose
That happened when Luke Voit returned.
houkenflouken
How’s the Yankees outfield looked this year? I guess not that good
CrookedAsstros
They’ve got failed 3B Andujar in Left and MLB’s worst outfielder Clint Frazier in right as starters, so you tell me lol
leefieux
You haven’t seen Gregory Polanco, I assume. He makes Frazier look like a gold glove.
thecoffinnail
Yankees need to either force Cashman to trade players like Torres and Frazier or replace him for a modern GM. He has always had a sweet spot for aging veterans and prospect potential. Torres needs a fresh start elsewhere. He might be able to fix himself with a move back to 2nd but Cashman won’t let that happen. He still has enough shine to bring back a decent prospect or two. More importantly Cashman needs to find a good CF prospect who won’t cost more than a good relief pitcher. Waters from the Braves could be a good target. He is nearly ready but stuck behind Pache. Waters is pretty much a RH Gardy clone. Solid bat, tons of speed, good defense and little power. The Braves need relief pitchers badly. Perhaps Green (2 additional years of control) would be enough to get him. Maybe include O’Day for someone like Jenista. Two players Cashman wouldn’t normally trade for but the type that have thrived in NY in the past. Yankees would probably have to kick in cash as well. Basically make both pitchers free for the Braves this year. Only way he would get Jenista included.
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Chad Green for Drew Waters? Thanks. I needed a laugh…
Dustyslambchops23
Why wont anyone trade our trash for their top prospects. Fire the GM!
-thecoffinnail
Jaa1968
Waters isn’t going anywhere
Monkey’s Uncle
Yankees are probably figuring that he can’t possibly put up worse numbers than he has so far this year, so why not?
User 4245925809
I don’t understand why the team didn’t look to get any kind of legit LH power bats to suit the home stadium they play at. They are predominantly a RH hitting team and then, bringing back the aging (and slipping) Gardner back was mystifying knowing the team needed LH bats sprinkled in that could produce.
SoxRewl
Cashman has let the league pass him by. Trading for or signing players on huge contracts at the end of their prime may have worked in the steroid era, but he’s creating an expensive, old, strikeout prone offense with washed up pitchers. Maybe they should look into a new voice to lead the front office.
Joe says...
@Johnsilver it wasn’t a terrible idea to bring Gardy back. He was just supposed to be a fourth outfielder.
driftcat28 2
Gardner was never going to be a 4th outfielder. The Yankees made that clear when Frazier got benched 4 games into the season for Gardner. In the process they killed Frazier’s confidence and made the lineup worse by rolling Brett out every day
Nick
The “Frazier had a day off in April so that’s why he’s hitting .180 in July” line of thinking kind of amuses me…
Ducky Buckin Fent
Gardy is still Gardy.
Just – ya know – a little bit less.
Love the guy. God bless all us stupid grinders.
But it would appear father time has called his number.
It is what it is, as the wise man said.
looiebelongsinthehall
Kill Frazier’s confidence? He’s been over confident since arriving in NY. His strong initial showing went to his head and he’s never been the player the team expected. Last year he benefited greatly by the short season. He was given a real chance this year and failed big time. Otherwise Miggy would not be playing left field.
yankee766766
Fourth Outfielder??? Really? Did anybody think that none of these Outfielders would NOT get hurt? Real bad judgement because the thinking with Gardner was that he would see more than just fourth outfielder playing time. Cashman liked him, period!!!!
emac22
It makes it easier to read if you’re old, blind, don’t wear glasses and don’t adjust your screen for bigger text. It also very rarely makes things more confusing so it has little downside.
It’s easier to scroll than squint.
Ducky Buckin Fent
hat tip
Darryl Rose
Although I agree with your point …Gardner is a switch hitter.
MB923
He’s a lefty. Not a switch hitter.
Darryl Rose
Oops. My mistake.
Ancient Pistol
The. missing piece! As a Yankees fan I can now rest easy.
oldmansteve
Leave it to Yankee fans to complain about giving up an organizational player for a small piece. Not every acquisition has to be a freaking superstar.
Ancient Pistol
You failed to see the sarcasm in my comment. It’s not the trade that matters to me but the issues with the team that are more important.
oldmansteve
Who says they are done? I’d say having someone capable of playing CF is a huge need for the Yankees.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Well Steve is now going complain that you really didn’t MEAN to complain.
Deadguy
This is why the Cardinals play Bader everyday when healthy, not because he can hit, but because he has elite sprint speed, and great defense, great defense saves runs, and taxation on your pitching staff.
emac22
It is! The idea that Locastro is the only answer to the question so far compounds the fact that it shouldn’t be such an urgent question. The failure to plan ahead is as troubling as the slow and underwhelming responses and the long term plan that built a team of DH’s.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Insurance piece for Gardy and Wade who are playing way too much.
Bostonsportsforlife
speed yes, but shouldn’t they trying having a lefty bat once in a while.
august
This doesn’t really solve anything m. He’s a righty and he can’t hit.
Nick
Sounds kind of ridiculous to say, but for a short-term backup CF a righty is 100% what they need. Right now they’re platooning Gardner in center with Judge so that he doesn’t have to see lefty pitchers. Bringing in a righty lets you at least keep Judge in RF and form a more tradational L/R platoon in CF.
Eventually we hopefully see both an upgrade at starting CF (pushing Gardner to the 4th OF role and LoCastro to AAA) and a lefty bat on the bench… Assuming they show something in the next few weeks that makes anyone thing this team is worth upgrading.
cgallant
Mike Tauchman who?
Ancient Pistol
In other good news for the Yankees, today’s game is rained out so they can’t lose.
Joe says...
Aaron Boone “Hold my beer.”
MickeyYogiWillieJackieHenry
The Steinbrenner’s conversion to Wilponism continues
driftcat28 2
This will surely solve all the problems /s
mike156
Rumor has it that he can also replace Chapman in high-leverage situations.
NWMarinerHawk
What’s wrong with this cheap move? Dudes one of the fastest players in baseball. They obviously see something in his swing that they can work with.
Ancient Pistol
Then why aren’t they working with the swings of their current players? I’m always a fan of cheap moves for potential situations, but to say they can possibly fix his swing when they have so many players not swinging well so the irony of the trade.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Nothing. I actually like this move for a 25 y.o. pitcher only cracking AA ball.
Yank4life52
They need someone who can hit in clutch situations. The guy can steal bases but who’s going to drive him in?
Darryl Rose
Absolutely. The Yankee batting coach is a savant. If this hitting juggernaut can’t turn him around no one can.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
They can not only work with the swing, but they can work with his jive as well, fox trot not far off.
MilwaukeeStrong
That’s gonna sure up the pitching staff..
oldmansteve
Bro, do you go to charity drives and complain about how no one is fighting climate change?
MilwaukeeStrong
stop liking your own comments Stevie
oldmansteve
Not my fault no one likes yours
Deadguy
Hell yeah
While I’m sitting on a couch 2 other people are moving. Sitting there bitchin’ about there carbon footprint putting on such an event where people drive stuff there and drop it off for charity, nobody needs there charity, we all need to stay home and grow vegetables
itslonelyatthetrop
Curious as to why they didn’t go for David Peralta…
oldmansteve
Cost
MilwaukeeStrong
terrific analysis. Almost as good as Mark DeRosa.
CrookedAsstros
Peralta’s overrated, if he hit right-handed he wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar
Ancient Pistol
I was wondering, can the Yankees trade Cashman and Boone next?
yuforreal
Thought the Yanks would go after Gallo
Ancient Pistol
If you are still trying, then I would agree. He strikes out a ton so he’ll fit in there, but he’s a lefty and they need left-hand power. How Cashman still has a job after constructing a team for Yankee Stadium without left-handed power is beyond me.
yuforreal
I wonder what the Yanks would offer up to get Gallo?
Rsox
Nothing. Cashman would just tell the Rangers to give them Gallo and pay the rest of his salary while they are at it.
Cashman rode the coattails of Gene Michael/Bob Watson for more than a decade longer than he should have been able to. It’s time for the kids to channel their inner George
seamaholic 2
Gallo would hit HR’s in Yankee Stadium off the handle and breaking his bat.
Captain-Judge99
@seamaholic 2- Joey Gallo is the player I want from Texas. What’s there not to like? Sandwich him in the order in between Judge and Stanton. I doubt the Rangers will pay at least half of his contract though.
stymeedone
The Yankees are not exceeding the Tax threshold. Any player with a contract above minimum is outside their range. This is nothing new. To acquire a contract, they would need to move a contract. What depth do they have to trade? Even a medium acquisition is outside their reach. Gallo ain’t happening!
2012orioles
Love the no batting gloves
MetsFan22
Should help them go from 3 games out of 3rd at the end of the year to 1.5-2 games out of 3rd at the end of the year. Lol
ellisd19830
Deserved shout out to foolish baseball! One of the best original baseball content creators… I’ve been one of that kids OG’S!
markakis
Agreed! He deserves the attention Jomboy gets.
Deadguy
attention? I thought YouTubers did it for dough
FletcherFan66
I love TimmyLo so I can’t fathom the pain I’ll feel when I see him in a Yankees uniform
jakethesnizake
Cashman is a fool. Nothing this guy does makes any sense these days. Trade for a fast guy who can’t hit for his life instead of calling up someone from the minors who deserves a promotion.
They need to fire him, he’s worn out his welcome and has regressed significantly as a GM.
honey nut ichiros
Cashman dumpster diving again. Just what the lineup needs,another below .200 hitter. Smdh
bobtillman
Locastro’s not a bad spare part at all; excellent in game skills, which the Spanks seldom show. VERY curios that they didn’t go after Corey Dickerson, who was just a salary dump. I mean, is 4M THAT much? Dickerson’s got his warts, but he’d be a strong LH bat.
Joe says...
Well if they’re going over the LT, Corey Dickerson ain’t the guy to do it for. I think to go over, it would have to be a Scherzer or Story level player.
driftcat28 2
They’re 4M under the luxury tax, Dickerson would put them right at it and they will not cross it, no matter what Steinbrenner says. Yanks can add another cheap pitcher or something and say they tried
bobtillman
Sorry, I don’t buy the LT nonsense. They have 650M in revenue that they admit to; we all know it’s more.
The real disparity is that the Yanks (Red Sox, LAD, etc.,.etc.) can actually afford twice the payrolls they have; The LT is chump change if they want to win. Obviously they feel they can continue to pack the joint and get good YES ratings by finishing third. Is that a sound business decision? Time will tell.
If your yearly profits depend on cheapening the brand, you’ve set yourself up for failure. And it gets continually hard to do.
Joe says...
I don’t disagree about BSness of the LT, I’m just looking at it as I think the Yankees FO is looking at it.
Ghost Pepper
Hope this trade doesn’t come back to bite us in the championship!
Wrong sport , my bad.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Just what the Yankees need, another batter hitting below .200. Can’t wait to see a lineup with Frazier, Gardner, Odor & Locastro in it. They can be called the Flying Mendozas!
EliMorganFanClub
Jomboy must be happy
StPeteStingRays
Definitely winning the AL East now…
mlbnyyfan
Fire Cashman now another right handed batter
Deadguy
You gonna have to catch and then pass the Red Sox
StPeteStingRays
Our pitching situation needs improvement. Looks like the Rays should partner with the American Red Cross with all our injuries.
And, Boston’s luck will end soon.
StudWinfield
Yanks need a SP capable of quality starts on a consistent basis. Bring in Gray if you can. Otherwise, this roster doesn’t deserve a major addition.
JoeBrady
I’m not questioning the value, as neither are likely to push the needle much.
But what does Locastro add to the team? The only value I see is that he platoons with Gardner in CF, when they NYY face a lefty. And a late-inning defensive substitute against righties, when Gardner shifts to LF.
And that has some value, but it also take a roster spot. And that begets the second question. How are the NYY going to upgrade their offense? Without busting the cap, the only move I see is the addition of a LH OF. And if they do that, then Locastro is back in the minors.
StudWinfield
I’m betting that there will be no offensive upgrade. It’s up to Torres, Voit and Frazier/Andujar to offer some career average production. Sanchez and DJL have improved themselves. Any other investment needs to be focused on stabilizing the rotation.
YourDreamGM
Nice prospect for Arizona.
Angels & NL West
Enjoy Yankees fans. You’ve never seen a guy turn the bases like Locastro. Hopefully, he can get his OBP up closer to his career average from this point forward and give the Yankees a spark.
Darryl Rose
Obviously this isn’t a game changer move but I like it. He plays all three outfield positions and can fly. The expectations will be low because of his limited offense but Yankee fans will come to love the guy with his hustle and defense. He’s significantly faster than Wade but unfortunately hits like him as well. He fills an obvious need in center.
emt2807
Cash an is really earning his keep this year. Unreal.
Mario93
Yankees needed some speed, always nice having elite speed of the bench. A good manager, knows how to make use of it.
Salvi
“A good manager . . .”
So the Yankees are going to flip him to the Red Sox?
Ham Fighter
At this point I think there is 3-4 teams in Japan better than the d-backs
jgus828
“Rough year at the plate”…..he will fit right in!
WideWorldofSports
yankees get richie sexson or carlos lee and i’d say this trade season will have been a success
BortMcCheevers
Surely dumpster diving will save the season right?
Rick Pernell
If the Yankees ever figure out how to get Gardner, Frazier, Odor and Locastro in the same lineup with Torres watch out!
You can’t even fix this crap with Duct Tape!
The Saber-toothed Superfife
You can fix ANYTHING with duct tape. Ask any astronaut or cosmonaut….
The only thing it doesn’t fix is BigAl Avila’s deal capabilities and that’s just because Al stinks and actually, duct tape could fix that too…but it would be totally ILLEGAL and even though it will probably be 20 years until the Tigers are back in the playoffs with BigAl at the helm, I don’t feel like waiting in the state pen……
Duct tape CAN fix anything, if you have the know how and the guts to use it.
wileycoyote56
Great move for Locastra, if he can get on base 33% of the time this will help his career. Ex yankee players find a place to play
Priggs89
It’s amazing that a team can have a $200M payroll and still feel the need to acquire a player like Tim Locastro. That’s some piss poor money management.
the outlaw
The Yankees need to decide if they’re in or out and make moves accordingly to fit either goal.
Trade Stanton and $100 million to the LAA.
Resign Judge
Trade Gleybar to the Rockies for Marquez , Story and a bag of balls and extend Trevor.
Selkies
Need a lefty bat in the outfield? I hear Gregory Polanco is doing real well (/sarcasm).
Maybe give Nomar Mazara a kick? I mean, maybe they could bring some of that prospect shine like they did with Gio Urshela.
whyhayzee
November 21, 2018: Traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Yankees for Drew Finley (minors) and cash.
January 16, 2019: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash and Ronald Roman (minors).
BeforeMcCourt
Think you’re a little too hazy on this one. Who cares?
whyhayzee
Y. A. Z. here, just pointing out that they had him already.
ClevelandSpidersFromMars
Guy has a .356 obp and has literally never been caught stealing. And, acquired for an old A ball pitcher! How can you complain?
BeforeMcCourt
He has 3 CS in 2021..
Salvi
Are you Cashman’s publicist?
1) He has a career .339 obp, with a current obp of .271 in 2021.
2) Castro is only 25, while Locastro is 28. Meaning, Castro has more years of control.
3) Hes been caught stealing 3 times THIS YEAR.
You seem like you’re cherry picking stats or making them up. But, I think I see a Yankee fan in sheeps clothing.
Northeasternskier
“They don’t boo nobodies!”
Reggie Jackson
oneiblnd
What happened to the big offseason pickup of Greg Allen? Crickets
Northeasternskier
These are the kinds of trades you’re going to see with the Yanks until the LT reset after 2021, whether anyone agrees with the philosophy or not, they seem intent on staying course on their business plan
Ducky Buckin Fent
@YankeeClipper –
Where are you, bro?
IjustloveBaseball
Locastro has been bad at the dish this year, but he did hit .260 w/ a .367 on-base across 124 games between ’19/’20. He’s not going to light the world on fire, but I don’t really see any harm in this deal for the Yanks.
Salvi
The payroll situation is the same as the 2018 Red Sox. Replace a few names, and you have similar situations, guys reaching fat arbitration settlements, older players with bad contacts.
Difference is the Red Sox we’re playing well, and had to go all in. Yankees shouldn’t go all in, dip below and reset payroll tax. This will avoid having to go through the ‘19 &’20 Red Sox debacle.
larkraxm
Fire Aaron Boone. He has to go.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Who do you think will be the Yankee GM next year?