Jovan Alford of Sport’s Illustrated Yankees’ Taylor Walls Trade Idea

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Jovan Alford of Sport’s Illustrated Yankees’ Taylor Walls Trade Idea

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Taylor Walls #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after recording a double play against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) Getty

Matt Cunningham · HEAVY

Wed, Oct 28, 2026 ·

4 min read

Alford's Reasoning For Yankees Walls fit makes sense

Alford notes that Walls' game offers little offensive value, which is true: in 124 games this year, Walls hit just .222 with 2 home runs, 36 RBIs, a .607 OPS, and a .309 OBP. But Walls makes up for what he lacks at the plate with defense at a premium position. Walls has posted +21 DRS (defensive runs saved) in 2026, the fourth-highest among active players this season, according to Rays MLB.com beat writer/reporter Brian Murphy.

GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 03: Taylor Walls #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws to first base during the fourth inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Since his 2021 debut, Walls has accumulated +73 DRS (defensive runs saved), which puts him third among active players over the last five seasons, Murphy said.

The idea isn't far-fetched, with Walls still under contract, given the Rays' small-market history of trading players for value. The most recent Yankees-Rays trade came at the 2025 MLB trade deadline, when the Yankees acquired right-handed hitting utility infielder Jose Caballero from Tampa Bay for outfielder Everson Pereira and a PTBNL (player to be named later).

Walls will enter his age-31 season in 2027 with a $3.1 million club option, up from $2.45 million in 2026, according to Spotrac. Walls is not set to become a free agent until 2028, per Spotrac. Whether the Rays consider moving Walls this offseason remains to be seen. The Rays drafted high school shortstop and left-handed hitter Grady Emerson with the No. 2 overall pick in this past year's MLB Draft in Philadelphia.

GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 11: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the Tampa Bay Rays selection of Grady Emerson second overall during the 2026 MLB Draft at Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Rays Possible Young Shortstop Of The Future

With Emerson's projected ETA at 2029, per the MiLB site, says he aims to reach the majors by 2028, a lofty goal for an 18-year-old, but certainly possible. The Rays also have 25-year-old Ben Williamson, whom they drafted in 2023, in the infield mix, as well as 31-year-old Jorge Mateo, a former Yankees top prospect in 2016 before being traded to the then-Oakland, now-Sacramento, A's for right-handed starting pitcher Sonny Gray.

Given the Rays' current depth and what they have in their minor league system, it seems unlikely they'll move on from Walls in a trade this offseason. Still, given Tampa Bay's market, nothing is off the table if they get what they want in return.

Despite being division rivals, this trade would make sense for the Yankees from a defensive alignment and depth standpoint. The Yankees' offseason faces numerous questions about qualifying offers for players like closer David Bednar, and they have several impending free agents, including Bednar, Chisholm Jr., Grisham, Goldschmidt, Schreiber, Hill, Rosario, Yarbrough, Blackburn, and Fulmer, according to Spotrac's free agency tracker. Six of the Yankees' ten free agents are bullpen arms, per Spotrac.

So one thing definitely on the Yankees' agenda this winter is addressing the bullpen heading into the 2027 season. As for other moves, that remains to be seen but there's definite possibilities, maybe even things nobody sees coming.

This article was originally published on HEAVY