Just before the start of last season, the Yankees made an under-the-radar trade. Jake Cave, a useful fourth-outfielder-type prospect who had been in the Yankees’ system for nearly seven years, was sent to the Twins in exchange for the unheralded Luis Gil. The Yankees needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster after signing Neil Walker in the middle of spring training, and dealing Cave to Minnesota in exchange for a hard-throwing teenager fit the bill.
Cave performed admirably for the Twins, running a .269/.318/.481 slash line with 13 homers in 91 games as a 25-year-old rookie.