Yankees, Mets get extra option year on Everson Pereira, Max Kranick
The Yankees made a key acquisition already this offseason when outfielder Everson Pereira was among those who received an additional fourth minor league option, The Post has learned.Players typically have three minor league options — basically three seasons in which they can be sent down from the majors without being subjected to waivers.But in some cases often involving stretches of missed time due to injury, a player who has amassed less than five full pro seasons (minors and majors combined) can become eligible for a fourth option.Pereira fell into that category and received a fourth option as did another Yankee farmhand, infielder Jorbit Vivas, and Mets minor league pitcher Max Kranick.It allows the teams an additional year to move a player up and down if they so decide.
For example, Yankee pitching prospect Yoendrys Gomez received a fourth option last season and the Yankees optioned the righty to the minors on four occasions in 2024.In 2025, Gomez will be out of options and either has to stay on the 26-man roster or major league IL or will have to pass through waivers, where another team can claim him.Pereira, who was ranked the 67th-best prospect by Baseball America going into last season, underwent season-ending elbow surgery last June.
He is not viewed as a finished enough project to have made the Yankees as a starter and — if he were out of options — the Yanks might have had to keep him on the bench in 2025 rather than risk losing him for nothing on waivers.The fourth option will allow Pereira to return to the minors when he is fully recovered from his surgery.That will provide more time for the righty-hitter to more organically rebuild his value, for the Yankees or, potentially, as a trade piece.The lefty-swinging Vivas, who was obtained last December from the Dodgers along with reliever Victor Gonzalez for infielder Trey Sweeney, also can be retained as a depth piece now or as a trade chip.Kranick appeared in 11 games for the Pirates between 2021...