Yankees trade with Nationals to swap infielder for pitcher before Opening Day The New York Yankees and Washington Nationals finalized a trade on Sunday, exchanging an infielder for a pitching prospect ahead of the upcoming Opening Day. The deal, reported by Andrew Golden of the Baltimore Banner, involves the Nationals acquiring INF Jorbit Vivas from the Yankees in exchange for right-handed pitcher Sean Paul Liñan. Vivas, a 25-year-old left-handed hitter, was not expected to make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. The infielder, who can play second and third base, had limited MLB experience last season, appearing in 56 games with nine hits and a .161 batting average. In 2025, he played 100 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hit .270 with 21 doubles, a triple, four home runs, and 12 stolen bases. His MLB performance and lack of immediate impact made him a trade candidate. The Yankees received Sean Paul Liñan, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher from Colombia. Liñan reached High-A with the Dodgers before spending the latter part of last season with the Nationals. In his minor league career, he posted a 3.62 ERA in 65 appearances, including 26 starts. Notably, Liñan has shown potential as a strikeout pitcher, averaging 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The Yankees’ acquisition of Liñan is seen as a strategic move to add a young arm with upside, particularly for a player unlikely to contribute significantly at the MLB level this season. The Nationals’ decision to acquire Vivas reflects their need for infield depth. While the Yankees sought a pitching prospect, the Nationals prioritized adding versatility to their infield, leveraging Vivas’ ability to play multiple positions.#washington_nationals #new_york_yankees #jorbit_vivas #sean_paul_linan #scranton_wilkes_barre
