Yanks take out their main competition for Rodon by solving Minnesota's SP problem with Montas. They give MIN a SS they wanted just a year ago (solving for the hole created at SS by Correa's departure), and give em an OF prospect to add some extra value. Meanwhile, the Yanks get a lefty bat that hits for contact and can play 1B/2B/3B/LF and free up over $13mm in payroll ($6mm for IKF, est. $7.7mm for Montas). Adding $13mm for a SS and a SP with high upside -- from MIN's perspective -- is a relative bargain considering Carlos Rodon's $30mm/yr. price tag. If the Yanks get Rodon, they shouldn't miss Montas too much -- even if he excels in Minnesota. Cole-Rodon-Sevvy-Nestor is a quality playoff rotation. By the end of the ALCS, it was clear that IKF wasn't in the Yanks' plans to be the starting SS in '24, so getting rid of him frees up SS for an open competition between Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and Anthony Volpe. If they wanted to throw a minor league deal to an Andrelton Simmons or if they can get a Jose Iglesias or Elvis Andrus for less than $6mm, no harm in adding some veteran insurance with defensive upside. Arraez, however, adds a better version of what the Yankees wanted in IKF -- a contact hitter with solid bat-to-ball skills PLUS he's left-handed and can play multiple positions (including LF and 3B, both spots where the team would love an upgrade). He led the AL in batting last year -- which makes him a perfect table-setter for Judge, Rizzo, Stanton & company.