The New York Yankees are coming off being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays, and the team could make a bold move to revamp the roster.
The Yankees were criticized for running back a similar team, but New York could be aggressive ahead of the trade deadline. So, MLB analyst Ethen Hutton of SI proposed a deal that would see the Yankees acquire Oneil Cruz from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a blockbuster move.
Yankees acquire:
Pirates acquire:
- Jasson Dominguez
- Spencer Jones
- Carlos Lagrange
The four-player blockbuster would be a massive deal as the Yankees would acquire Cruz to bolster the offense. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, gets two young outfielders and a young pitcher who can be part of the rotation for years to come.
New York would acquire Cruz, who’s under contract through the 2028 MLB season. The outfielder could also replace Trent Grisham in center, and allow the Yankees to trade him for other assets. Cruz is hitting .339 with 5 home runs and 13 RBIs to begin the year.
In return, the Yankees give up their second and sixth-ranked prospects in Lagrange and Jones, as well as Dominguez, who’s a legit MLB outfielder now. Dominguez is in Triple-A, as the Yankees’ corner outfield is Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, but with the Pirates, he could get every day playing time and add some more power.
Jones and Lagrange, meanwhile, would both likely remain in Triple-A, but could reach the majors this season to help the Pirates in a playoff push.
Analyst Details Why Yankees Pull Off Blockbuster
The proposed Yankees-Pirates swap would be a blockbuster, but it would be a hefty price to pay for New York.
Yet, Hutton believes the Yankees need to be aggressive to be in win-now mode. And, Cruz can help them for three playoff runs. He can also add another bat and some more speed to the lineup.
“The Yankees are in win-now mode coming off back-to-back postseason exits, falling to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS last season,” Hutton wrote. “New York has expressed interest in a deal for Cruz, which could present a high-risk, high-reward target for the team.
“His offensive tools add a lot of firepower to one of the top batting rotations in the majors. And he’s yet to reach his full potential, which could be realized under manager Aaron Boone. The return is steep. But the upside is undeniable as the Yankees look to claim their first pennant since 2009.”
Cruz led the NL in stolen bases in 2025.
New York Offense is Slumping
The Yankees were swept by the Rays as New York’s offense is off to a slow start.
Following the series loss, Yankees captain Aaron Judge believes the team needs to simplify the offense.
“We need to simplify some things at the plate,” Judge said. “We’re trying to hit every single pitch we see up there and getting ourselves in some bad counts and bad situations. As a group, if we simplify our approach a little bit, hunt the pitch that we’re looking for and pass the baton, I think we’ll be in a better spot.”
The Yankees are off to an 8-7 start and are now tied with the Baltimore Orioles and Rays.
Trade Idea Has Yankees Acquiring Oneil Cruz in 4-Player Blockbuster