New York Yankees roster now adds two prospects | More trade evidence to come

In order to safeguard their prospects for next month’s Rule 5 Draft, the Yankees added catcher Agustin Ramírez and right-hander Clayton Beeter to their 40-man roster on Tuesday night.

This winter, Beeter was sure to secure a spot on the 40-man roster. After an outstanding first half of the season with Double-A Somerset, the starter concluded the 2023 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Beeter recorded a 3.62 ERA in 27 appearances for both affiliates, striking out 162 batters in 131 2/3 innings.

The right-hander, who will be one of several arms that add depth to the big-league staff starting next spring, is expected to make his Major League debut in 2024. This winter, if the Yankees decide to use their abundance of young pitching talent to acquire bats—specifically, left-handed outfielders—he might also be used as a trade chip.

In the trade for Joey Gallo two years ago, the Dodgers sent Beeter, 25, to the Red Sox. The sixth-ranked right-hander in the Yankee organization, he is rated by MLB Pipeline as the team’s No. 16 prospect.

It should also come as no surprise that Ramírez was added. In his first full season of professional ball, the 21-year-old power-hitting catcher moved up three levels in the Yankees’ farm system this year, swinging his way from Class-A Tampa to Double-A Somerset. With an OPS of.819, Ramírez hit 18 home runs in 114 games. According to MLB Pipeline, he is the Yankees’ No. 24 prospect.

Although Ramírez’s defense needs improvement and his ability to hit the ball consistently in the air will be crucial to generating consistent offensive output, he has an undeniable impact on the baseball field, which is a plus for a player in his position.

With Ramírez added to the 40-man roster, the Yankees now have six catchers, a hint of things to come in the near future.

It was obvious that the Yankees were setting themselves up to trade one of their catchers even before Ramírez and minor-league backstop Carlos Narvaez were added to the 40-man roster this month. With Austin Wells and Jose Trevino expected to join the big-league roster early in the upcoming season, longest-tenured Yankee Kyle Higashioka and defense-first catcher Ben Rortvedt become more disposable.