Minor league contraction was in the works long before a global pandemic washed away the 2020 minor league baseball season. The Yankees, having run the largest farm system in baseball over the last few years, were positioned to see the biggest changes in the structure of their player development program. Entering 2021 with three fewer minor league teams has created a log jam up the middle for the Yankees, and presents them with an opportunity to be very aggressive on the trade market. There is only so much playing time to go around this coming season especially at the A-ball level and below.
Why the Yankees can be aggressive with their prospects in trades
