Over the past week or so, the New York Yankees have begun to get active when it comes to beginning what figures to be a busy offseason of work. Trent Grisham, Clarke Schmidt, and Oswaldo Cabrera have all been re-signed, and the front office is hard at work exploring other moves to make.
There’s no doubt that New York could be busy in free agency, as it has cash to burn. But could it also be players on the trade market? And if so, who should it go out and pursue? If you ask Yankees’ insider Michael Kay, he believes that the team should make a serious push to acquire superstar outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. from the San Diego Padres this offseason.
Yankees Linked to Potential Fernando Tatis Jr. Trade
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New York has several areas of need already entering the offseason, and another one could pop up if Cody Bellinger bolts in free agency. There appears to be a desire between the two sides to reunite, but with Bellinger being on the open market now, another team could conceivably come in and outbid the Yanks for his services.
If that happens, replacing Bellinger in free agency would be a tall task. The trade market offers some unique alternatives, where Tatis looms as a potential superstar target. Some trade rumors have been swirling around Tatis recently, even though he is fresh off another All-Star campaign in 2025 that saw him hit .268 with 25 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases.
Bellinger’s return would all but rule out a trade for Tatis. If he departs, though, that could open the door for New York’s front office to find a long-term partner for Aaron Judge in the outfield. Kay believes that if the bidding for Bellinger gets too high, which very well could end up happening, the team should turn to the trade market and try to swing a deal for Tatis.
“What did the Yankees need this year? They needed a right-handed bat, right?” Kay said on “The Michael Kay Show.” “Fernando Tatis is 26 years old … I would make a phone call to A.J. Preller. ‘What do you need? What do you want? We got a deep farm system; this is the type of player that would play huge in New York’ … If I’m the Yankees, and I see the bidding for Bellinger gets over $30 million, I might have to tap out … That’s when I make my pivot to Fernando Tatis Jr.”
Should the Yankees Trade for Fernando Tatis Jr.?
GettyFernando Tatís Jr.
If Tatis does somehow wind out on the trade block, he’d be perhaps the most sought-after player in the league this offseason. He’ll be turning just 27 years old in January, and he’s already locked into a $340 million contract that looks like a bargain compared to some of the other deals players have gotten over the past couple of years.
Sure, a blockbuster trade would be expensive, and it’s fair to wonder whether or not Tatis could angle to a restructured contract if he continues to play at a high level. Investing in Bellinger is a bit sketchy given his inconsistent production over the years, and while he has some PED controversies in his past, Tatis has been a superstar when he’s been on the field throughout his career. If Bellinger doesn’t return, New York should go all in on a potential deal for Tatis.
Yankees Urged to Pursue Trade for $340 Million Outfielder