Yankees Acquire Pitching Prospect in Trade with Nationals

New York sends infielder Jorbit Vivas to Washington in exchange for young hurler Sean Paul Liñan.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 5:53am

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The New York Yankees have traded infielder Jorbit Vivas to the Washington Nationals in exchange for pitching prospect Sean Paul Liñan. Vivas was out of minor-league options, so the Yankees opted to move him to the Nationals, where he is expected to make the 26-man roster. In return, the Yankees acquire the 21-year-old Liñan, who has shown promise with his nasty stuff and ability to miss bats, though his command remains a work in progress.

Why it matters

This trade allows the Yankees to clear a roster spot while acquiring a young pitcher with high upside. Liñan could develop into a valuable piece for the Yankees' pitching staff in the near future, as the team looks to bolster its depth ahead of the new season.

The details

Vivas, a 25-year-old infielder, hit for an OPS of just .516 in 66 plate appearances for the Yankees last season. With the team having other middle/corner infield options like Jose Caballero, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Amed Rosario, Vivas became expendable. In return, the Yankees received Liñan, who posted a 3.03 ERA across three levels in 2025, with an impressive 12.34 strikeouts per nine innings. While his command remains a work in progress, Liñan's ability to mix his pitches and effective changeup make him an intriguing prospect for the Yankees.

  • The trade was completed on March 23, 2026, just days before the start of the 2026 MLB regular season.

The players

Jorbit Vivas

A 25-year-old infielder in the Yankees' system who was out of minor-league options.

Sean Paul Liñan

A 21-year-old pitching prospect acquired by the Yankees from the Nationals, who has shown promise with his nasty stuff and high strikeout rate despite command issues.

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What they’re saying

“Vivas was out of minor-league options, so he needed to crack the big league roster for the Yankees lest they ran the risk of losing him via waivers. Instead, they decided to get ahead of the situation and trade him to the Nationals, where he presumably will make the 26-man roster on Opening Day.”

— Jedd Pagaduan, Author

What’s next

Liñan will report to the Yankees' minor-league system, where he will look to continue developing his command and solidify his spot as a future contributor to the big-league club.

The takeaway

This trade represents a low-risk, high-upside move for the Yankees, as they acquire a young pitcher with electric stuff in exchange for an infielder who was unlikely to crack their Opening Day roster. Liñan's development will be worth monitoring as the Yankees aim to bolster their pitching depth for the 2026 season and beyond.