The New York Yankees upgraded their position player pool with two trades before Thursday's deadline, sending infielder Oswald Peraza to the Los Angeles Angels and acquiring utility man Jose Caballero from the Tampa Bay Rays
It was effectively a swap of infielders for New York that created an unusual scene at Yankee Stadium.
Both players were notified they were traded during the Yankees' 7-4 win over the Rays. For Caballero, that meant saying his goodbyes to his now-former teammates and coaches, hugging some in the visiting dugout in the eighth inning before gathering his belongings in the visitors' clubhouse and walking to the other side.
The Yankees sent minor league outfielder Everson Pereira and a player to be named later for Caballero. They received minor league outfielder Wilberson De Peña and international bonus pool money for Peraza.
After clearing out his Rays locker on the other side of the stadium, Caballero conducted his postgame interview as a member of the Yankees in their clubhouse.
"I was winning today regardless," Caballero said. "We won the game, I guess. That's what I feel right now."
Caballero is a speedy and versatile defender who provides the Yankees a sturdier backup at shortstop for Anthony Volpe, though general manager Brian Cashman insisted Volpe's recent defensive struggles did not push him to seek a better alternative.
"I just think he provides a lot of versatility and more choices and flexibility by his player profile than what Peraza was providing," Cashman said. "So, nothing to do with a Volpe situation. We're trying to improve on all aspects of the roster so we feel like we improved on that. That's all."
Elaborating on the flexibility Caballero provides, Cashman added: "I was sitting there watching the game last night and wishing that Booney had a player he could shoot as a pinch runner that could take a bag, for instance."
Boone, who said he spoke with Caballero after Thursday's win, said he approved of the move.
"I talked to him for a second," Boone said. "I said, 'We've had some battles, but I like your game.' So I think he brings a lot to the table and I think he's going to be a very useful player for us, just a lot of different things he can do on a diamond and provide a lot of position flexibility."
Caballero, 28, is batting .226 with a .640 OPS, 34 steals in 42 attempts and an 84 wRC+. He has played six positions this season, but has played the most at shortstop during his three-year career.
Once a top prospect, Peraza, 25, has not found success in his stints at the major league level over the past four seasons. This year, he has been one of the worst hitters in the majors, batting .152 with a .452 OPS and 26 wRC+ in a career-high 71 games.
Caballero was the fourth position player the Yankees acquired in the final week before the deadline, joining third baseman Ryan McMahon (Colorado Rockies), utilityman Amed Rosario (Washington Nationals) and outfielder Austin Slater (Chicago White Sox). New York acquired seven players overall, with relievers David Bednar (Pittsburgh Pirates), Camilo Doval (San Francisco Giants) and Jake Bird (Rockies) added to bolster the bullpen.
The Rays, meanwhile, both acquired and traded away established major leaguers in the final 24 hours before the deadline.
Along with Caballero, Tampa Bay also traded right-hander Zack Littell to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday after he threw five scoreless innings against the Yankees. On Thursday, they acquired right-handed reliever Griffin Jax from the Minnesota Twins for right-handed starter Taj Bradley and added right-handed starter Adrian Houser from the White Sox.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.