Outside of re-signing Cody Bellinger and trading for Ryan Weathers, the New York Yankees haven’t made any splashy moves this offseason. Nonetheless, the Yankees feel that their roster is among the best in the American League and only needs tweaking.
Despite the low profile New York’s front office has had this offseason, could they be ready to make a major trade before the season starts or at the deadline later this summer? The Yankees do have desirable prospects who could be traded in a package for a big-name player.
So, what name should be on the Yankees’ radar? WFAN’s Tommy Lugauer believes that San Diego Padres‘ Fernando Tatis Jr. is a player that New York should be pursuing.
“Brian Cashman has to make a major splash,” Lugauer said in a video posted by WFAN on Jan. 28. “The guy that I think the Yankees should trade for is Fernando Tatis Jr. I would trade [Anthony] Volpe. I would trade [Luis] Gil. I would trade [Jasson] Dominguez and George Lombard Jr.
“Fernando Tatis is one of the most electric players in the sport. He could be your shortstop. I know he’s found a home in right field. He could play right field for the Yankees.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. Would Help Aaron Judge
Moreover, Lugauer believes that a player like Tatis would give the Yankees flexibility with Aaron Judge, who can either move into the infield or take up most of the at-bats at designated hitter.
“I like the idea of Judge, at times, moving to first base. I like the idea of Judge, at times, DHing,” Lugauer added. “He’s not getting any younger. And Judge has gotten hurt more times than you would like, and he’s their most prized possession.
“They’re nothing without him, so to keep him healthy, you DH him a little bit more. Who’s a terrific fielder, especially in the outfield, you could put him in right field. So if I’m Brian Cashman, I’m the Yankees, I would trade for Fernando Tatis Jr.”
Tatis Jr. has a batting average of .277 with 721 hits, 152 homers, 393 RBIs, and 476 runs scored in 671 games for the Padres in his career, per StatMuse.
It will be interesting to see if the Padres decide to rebuild at any point. Tatis would be a trade chip to replenish the team’s farm system, which trades have decimated as the team pushes to compete for a title now. Nonetheless, if the San Diego comes out slow, could they be tempted into making a major trade to rebuild?
Yankees Give Injury Update on Aaron Judge
As for Judge heading into the 2026 season, Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared the latest regarding his star player’s elbow injury.
“He’s doing really well, actually, because he has ramped up his throwing program a little bit more, because obviously he’s getting ready for the WBC, so he’s ahead of the game more so than he even normally is from a throwing standpoint, but I know it’s going really well for him, and he feels ready to go right away in camp,” Boone told reporters on Jan. 28 (h/t SNY).
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