The Yankees have been serious about buying and selling for Kyle Tucker. They as an alternative landed Cody Bellinger. It got here at a a lot totally different price and will yield a unique sort of return. The Cubs, after all, have been concerned in each transactions that includes the multi-time All-Stars.
That prompted the next debate between our MLB writers:Â
Which commerce do you want higher: The Yankees‘ deal for Cody Bellinger or the Cubs‘ swap for Kyle Tucker?
Deesha Thosar: There are just a few alternative ways of this, however my reply is Bellinger to the Yankees — notably as a result of they primarily bought him totally free. Yankees common supervisor Brian Cashman despatched solely 30-year-old right-hander Cody Poteet to Chicago in trade for Bellinger. The veteran righty has a 3.80 ERA in 24 video games (13 begins) throughout three years within the main leagues between the Marlins and the Yankees, and he’ll merely function one other depth arm on the Cubs’ pitching workers. Positive, Poteet’s 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings final yr — which included 4 strong begins whereas Gerrit Cole started the yr on the injured checklist — was beneficial for the Yankees’ rotation.
However the commerce settlement to half methods with Poteet, versus a high prospect within the Yankees’ farm system, was as simple of a call for Cashman as whether or not to put on a coat in New York through the winter.
Bellinger’s versatility within the area is a focus of this commerce. Final season, the previous MVP award winner appeared defensively in any respect three outfield positions (49 video games in proper area, 48 video games in heart and one sport in left) and performed a very good chunk at first base (22 video games). Relying on the flurry of exercise within the Yankees’ entrance workplace the remainder of this offseason, supervisor Aaron Boone can play Bellinger in heart, proper or first base to fill whichever roster deficit is left by the point Opening Day rolls round. As of proper now, Bellinger makes probably the most sense at first base or heart area, as a result of Aaron Decide can transfer again to proper and Jasson DomÃnguez can proceed to extend his reps in left. But when the Yankees signal both Christian Walker or Teoscar Hernández, for instance, Bellinger can take over on the remaining positional gap.
So, we all know the deal made sense for the Yankees from a roster standpoint, but it surely was honest from a monetary scope, too. New York pays Bellinger $25 million in 2025, with the Cubs dealing with the remaining $5 million of his earlier pact, and the Yankees pays him $22.5 million in 2026 if he does not choose out. If he does, the groups will cut up his $5 million buyout.Â
All of which is to say, the chance right here primarily lies within the financials. It appears unattainable to foretell which model of Bellinger the Yankees will get in 2025, particularly after his offensive numbers dipped in 2024. However since Bellinger is just one yr faraway from his comeback marketing campaign with the Cubs (4.4 fWAR, 136 wRC+ in 2023), the Yankees are betting they might help him get again to that type. If Bellinger hits wherever near his All-Star potential, then he is a steal for the Yankees.
Tucker is, after all, an enormous get for the Cubs, however since that they had to surrender three gamers, together with high third base prospect Cam Smith, to the Astros for a one-year rental, the Bellinger commerce was a layup for the Yankees and a smart payroll-shedding transfer for Chicago that ought to let it deal with different areas of want.
Rowan Kavner: I like each trades, however I would favor the Cubs provided that they bought the higher participant and the star they desperately wanted. Tucker, who buttresses the Cubs’ assortment of above-average abilities, may be very seemingly going to be the perfect participant not named Juan Soto sporting a unique uniform in 2025. Tucker might need been overshadowed by different standouts in Houston, however he slots in proper behind Aaron Decide, Soto and Mookie Betts for probably the most wins above substitute collected by an outfielder over the previous 5 seasons.
Tucker can be one in every of simply seven big-leaguers who has been price greater than 4.0 WAR every of the previous 4 years, which speaks to his consistency. That he managed to take action once more in 2024, regardless of taking part in in simply 78 video games, speaks to his ceiling. At 28 subsequent yr, the Cubs are getting top-of-the-line gamers within the sport nonetheless in his prime. His wage, which can seemingly be someplace between $15-16 million in his ultimate yr of arbitration, ought to signify a substantial cut price.
After all, getting the higher participant in query required surrendering extra. The Cubs might afford to half with Isaac Paredes to open the trail for high prospect Matt Shaw, however shedding 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith — who instantly turns into the Astros’ finest prospect — was important. So, when you’re strictly judging these two trades by who got here and went, I can perceive favoring the Bellinger deal. No disrespect to Cody Poteet, however he was not going to issue considerably into the Yankees’ plans in 2025.
The Yankees wanted assist in the outfield and at first base and an injection of expertise right into a lineup now lacking Soto, and Bellinger checks every of these bins, even when he did not produce to the extent of his $27.5 million wage final season (which is why he did not choose out).Â
After an unceremonious ending to his L.A. tenure, the 2017 Rookie of the Yr and 2019 NL MVP bounced again in his first season in Chicago in 2023 by sacrificing energy for contact. He minimize his strikeout charge almost in half whereas ending tenth in MVP voting, although he significantly outproduced his anticipated numbers. In 2024, he got here again all the way down to earth. Nonetheless, he ought to assist in the Bronx, the place his left-handed bat figures to provide extra dwelling runs than it did at Wrigley Discipline. In a barren heart area market, the Yankees discovered a strong participant to roam the place with out shedding any important items.
However neither crew ought to be accomplished but. The Yankees want extra offensive assist, and the Bellinger addition will look higher if they will additionally add one of many high nook infielders in the marketplace. The Cubs, in the meantime, want to make use of the cash they saved within the Bellinger wage dump so as to add extra pitching. So, we should always have a greater reply to this query in a few months!
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Each day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Observe her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Rowan Kavner is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand coated the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved again to the West Coast in 2014. Observe him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
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