OSWALD PERAZA WILL BE THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Oswald Peraza should have never been traded. Ever. But the Yankees, in their infinite front-office “wisdom,” doubled down on Anthony Volpe — and one day soon, they’re going to regret it.

Here’s the reality: someone in the Bronx decided Volpe was “elite” before he ever proved it. High school stats don’t win you games in the big leagues, and Major League Baseball isn’t some Disney Channel coming-of-age movie. Us fans are finding that out the hard way.

Peraza worked his tail off for years. He earned his shot. But the moment Volpe walked in, somebody upstairs decided his face was more marketable and his “story” was shinier. And just like that, Peraza — the better player — became expendable. The Yankees basically traded him away for a bag of baseballs. That’s front-office malpractice.

Now Peraza’s speaking out — and he has every right to.

“When it comes to wearing the Yankee uniform, it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also a lot of responsibility,” Peraza told reporters. “All I could do was play baseball. It all comes down to opportunity. In the minors, I played every day, saw pitchers over and over, made my adjustments. Up here, I never had that chance.”

Translation? The Yankees never gave him a fair shot.

Peraza deserved better. He was signed, developed, and groomed by this organization… and then left to rot on the bench while the Yankees shoved Volpe down our throats as “the future.” He wasn’t valued. He wasn’t trusted. And eventually, he was tossed aside.

 
Now, here’s the kicker: Peraza has better tools than Volpe. Scouts rave about his plus defense — smooth actions, soft hands, a strong arm, and elite instincts. He’s fast, he’s smart on the bases, and his bat has real pop. Multiple evaluators have said Peraza’s physical tools are “louder” than Volpe’s, meaning the ceiling is higher. And so if you are listening to anyone in the Yankees organization saying that Volpe is better, they're lying to you.

Even Aaron Judge basically hinted earlier this season that if Peraza had been allowed to play consistently, we’d have seen a breakout year. But did the Yankees listen? Of course not. They were too busy polishing the Volpe hype machine.

And that, right there, is the Yankees’ downfall.

Volpe’s a likable kid, sure. But he hasn’t proven he can be an everyday difference-maker. Meanwhile, Peraza’s out the door — and you know what I hope happens? I hope he torches the Yankees every chance he gets. Not out of spite, but because it’ll expose just how badly this front office fumbled the bag.

The Yankees didn’t just trade away a top prospect. They traded away their own common sense.