Yankees say goodbye to three possibilities to Andrew Benintende

As the Yankees welcome them into newly added quarterback Andrew Benentende, they will have to say goodbye to three of their bid prospects.

The Bronx Bombers made their first big hit in the run-up to the August 2 MLB trade deadline by Get Benintende from the royal family Wednesday night. In turn, they dealt with right-hand pitchers Chandler Champlain and Pick Way, as well as left-handed TJ Sikkima.

Sikkima leads the group as the Yankees No. 19 Probability of the Yearalthough much of his promising career has been derailed by injuries.

The previous first-round pick caught the eye at Missouri, where he quickly established himself as one of the SEC’s top shooters. Sikkema led the conference with a 1.32 ERA as a rookie in 2019 and soon after was drafted by the Yankees later that year.

Sikkima’s time in New York got off to a bad start, when the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was later forced to miss the whole of 2021 while recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries.

The 23-year-old has produced strong numbers for the Hudson Valley Renegades – a subsidiary of the high-profile Yankees – when he can stay on the field in 2022, scoring 1-1 and 2.48 ERAs over 10 starts.

Way sits two places below Sikkema, his Hudson Valley teammate, on the Yankees’ potential 21st list.

According to ESPN Insider Kiley McDaniel, 22-year-old Ayman was the royal family’s best prospect.

“Beck is the prize here. I saw him this spring and he showed the potential for average turnover,” McDaniel said in a way. “Champlain and Sikkema are the two most back-to-back starter types with a relief option if it doesn’t work.”

Champlain, 23, was selected by the Yankees in the ninth round of last year’s draft. While playing in Low-A Tampa, he was 2-5 with a 4.30 ERA and 94 strikes over 15 starts and a comfortable ride.

The Royals announced that Sikkema and Way will be located in High-A Quad Cities, while Champlain will head to Low-A Columbia.

As for the Benintende and the Yankees, the former All Star and Gold Glover are likely to appear this week for the club as they face Kansas City, his former club, in a four-game series starting Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.