The Yankees have already made significant acquisitions this offseason, with outfielder Everson Pereira being one of the players to receive an additional minor league fourth option, the Post reported.
Players typically have three minor league options, essentially allowing them to leave the majors without receiving waivers for three seasons. However, in cases where injuries often result in extended absences, players who have accumulated fewer than five professional seasons (minors and majors combined) may be eligible for the fourth option.
Pereira falls into that category and received the fourth option, along with another Yankees farm hand, infielder Jorvit Bivas, and Mets minor league pitcher Max Kranik.
This will allow teams to move players up and down for another year if they wish. For example, Yankees pitching prospect Yoendriz Gomez received a fourth option last season, and the Yankees optioned the right-hander to the minors with a fourth-round option in 2024. In 2025, Gomez will no longer have any options and will have to remain on the 26-man roster or whatever. He would need to be moved to the Major League IL, or another team would have to acquire him via waivers.
Pereira was ranked the No. 67 prospect by Baseball America heading into last season, but underwent postseason elbow surgery last June. He is not considered a complete enough project to be a starter for the Yankees, and if he had no options, the Yankees would rather bench him in 2025 than risk losing him on waivers for free. Maybe I should have kept it.
The fourth option would allow Pereira to return to the minor leagues once he fully recovers from surgery. That would give the right-handed hitter more time to rebuild his value more organically, either to the Yankees or as a trade item.
Vivas, a left-hander acquired from the Dodgers in December along with infielder Trey Sweeney and relief pitcher Victor Gonzalez, can now be kept as part of the roster or as a trade chip.
Kranik appeared in 11 games for the Pirates in 2021-22 before needing Tommy John surgery. The Mets acquired him on waivers last January and designated him for selection in May, but the right-hander remained with the organization and was placed on the wild-card round roster for the game against the Brewers without actually playing.
He remains a depth option for the Mets.
