Despite losing outfielder Juan Soto, the New York Yankees have pivoted quickly by signing starting pitcher Max Fried and trading for closer Devin Williams. The Bombers couldn’t land Kyle Tucker before the Houston Astros traded him to the Chicago Cubs. But could general manager Brian Cashman pull off an insane trade for Tucker and Cody Bellinger?
The Yankees have been linked to both sluggers this winter. They were among the teams pursuing Tucker before the Cubs acquired him. Bellinger has seemed like a logical fit for New York since it was reported Chicago had an interest in trading the two-time All-Star.
Having the 2019 National League MVP Award winner land in the Bronx is still a possibility, but the two teams reportedly are having a problem agreeing over money. Bellinger is owed $52.5 million over the next two seasons if he doesn’t opt out at the end of 2025.
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Is there something even bigger in the works we don’t know about? FOX Sports’ Ben Verlander proposed an interesting scenario on Thursday.
“What if the Astros told the Yankees they wouldn’t trade Tucker there unless it was an insane deal,” Verlander wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “So the Yankees told the Cubs to trade for Tucker and they will send them a super insane mega-deal for Tucker/Bellinger.”
If the Yankees were to pull something like this off, it would be huge for their roster. Tucker would replace Soto in right field while making $16.7 million during his final year before reaching free agency. Bellinger and his $27.5 million salary could take over as the club’s primary first baseman.
Even though the Cubs are still interested in trading Bellinger and Tucker is reportedly not interested in signing an extension before reaching the open market, this feels like a stretch and rather unlikely.
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