Despite losing outfielder Juan Soto, the New York Yankees have moved quickly to address their roster by signing starting pitcher Max Fried and trading for closer Devin Williams. However, they missed out on Kyle Tucker, who was traded to the Chicago Cubs by the Houston Astros.
Speculation remains about whether Yankees general manager Brian Cashman could engineer a blockbuster deal for both Tucker and Cody Bellinger. The Yankees have been connected to both sluggers this offseason. They reportedly pursued Tucker before the Cubs acquired him, while Bellinger has long seemed like a logical fit for New York. The challenge, however, lies in financial disagreements—Bellinger is owed $52.5 million over the next two seasons unless he opts out after 2025.
FOX Sports’ Ben Verlander recently suggested a wild scenario: what if the Astros refused to trade Tucker to the Yankees unless the deal was outrageous? According to Verlander, the Yankees may have encouraged the Cubs to acquire Tucker, with plans to send Chicago an even bigger trade package to land both Tucker and Bellinger.
If such a deal materialized, it would be a game-changer for the Yankees. Tucker could replace Soto in right field while earning $16.7 million in his final year before free agency, and Bellinger’s $27.5 million salary would fill the team’s first base need. Still, given Tucker’s reluctance to sign a contract extension and ongoing financial hurdles surrounding Bellinger, this scenario seems far-fetched and unlikely.
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