The Yankees have a plethora of talent in the middle infield, highlighted by Anthony Volpe and Gleyber Torres, and relegating former top-100 prospect Oswald Peraza to a roving backup spot. The Marlins? After making the playoffs (surprise!) in 2023, they still have some maneuvering to do to ensure a return trip. Their strength (the rotation, even without Sandy Alcantara) could allow them to pick up offense along the way via trade and fill a shortstop vacancy.

The Yankees and Marlins talked about a Gleyber Torres trade in 2022 that would’ve netted New York Pablo López. Talks broke down at the 11th hour, but advanced fairly far. So come on! What are the two sides waiting for! Get together here!

Spoiler alert: The Marlins and Yankees both know about one another’s current trade options. There’s been very little movement on that front all winter long. The same players are available now as were available in November. It seems like, no matter how perfect you believe the fit to be, the two sides don’t like each other’s assets (or believe they can find common ground based on their respective talent assessments).

Kim Ng almost closed the 2022 trade. Peter Bendix, who’s now in charge and formerly helped run the Rays? He’s the one you have to deal with now, and it’s obvious he either doesn’t like Peraza or doesn’t value him anywhere close to his available pitchers, including Jesus Luzardo (naturally) and Edward Cabrera (surprising, but you know what, not our call).

On the plus side, the Yankees might not have to deal with a morose Torres this time around after a failed bout of trade talks.

But, significant downside, it doesn’t seem like a Peraza-led package has the same juice. Either that, or Bendix’s Marlins are valuing an asset like Cabrera — electric stuff, horrid control, middling results — as a fully realized package, dangling him based in the realm of future value rather than present value. The Yankees can’t afford to play that game right now. Cabrera at a relative discount would be a get, and would present an interesting opportunity for Matt Blake to play his trade. Cabrera, valued as if he’s already figured it out? No thanks.

If the Yankees could snap their fingers and render the Marlins impressed by Peraza, they would. But Miami doesn’t seem to view him as a centerpiece for any of their current assets, and there’s no overcoming that type of bias.