The Yankees were interested in trading for Kyle Tucker. They instead landed Cody Bellinger. It came at a much different cost and should deliver a different kind of return. Of course, the Cubs were involved in both deals that involved the multiple-time All-Star.
That sparked the following discussion among our MLB writers:
Which trade do you like the most: yankeesdeal for Cody Bellinger or Cubs“Swap with Kyle Tucker?
Disha Thosar: There are a few different ways to look at this, but my answer is Bellinger for the Yankees — especially because they got him for free. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sent only 30-year-old Cody Poteet to Chicago in exchange for Bellinger. The veteran right-hander has a 3.80 ERA in 24 games (13 starts) over three years in the majors between the Marlins and Yankees, and will serve as another depth arm on the Cubs' pitching staff. Certainly Poteet's 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings last year — which included four solid starts while Gerrit Cole He started the year on the injured list — and was valuable to the Yankees' rotation.
But the trade agreement to part ways with Poteet, in exchange for a top prospect in the Yankees' farm system, was as easy a decision for Cashman as whether he would wear a coat in New York during the winter.
Bellinger's versatility in this area is a focal point of this trade. Last season, the former Defensive Player of the Year winner appeared at all three positions in the outfield (49 games in right field, 48 games in center and one game in left) and played well at first base (22 games). Depending on the flurry of activity in the Yankees front office the rest of this season, manager Aaron Boone could play Bellinger at center, right or first base to fill any remaining roster deficit by the time Opening Day rolls around. As of now, Bellinger makes more sense at first base or center field, because Aaron Judge can move back to right and Jason Dominguez He can continue to increase his number of representatives on the left. But if the Yankees sign Christian Walker or Teoscar Hernandez, for example, Bellinger could take over in the remaining positional hole.
So, we know the deal made sense for the Yankees from a roster standpoint, but it was fair financially as well. New York will pay Bellinger $25 million in 2025, with the Cubs handling the remaining $5 million from his previous agreement, and the Yankees will pay him $22.5 million in 2026 if he doesn't opt out. If he does, teams will split his $5 million share.
All of this means that the risk here lies primarily in the financials. It seems impossible to predict what version of Bellinger the Yankees will have in 2025, especially after his offensive numbers declined in 2024. But since Bellinger is only one year away from his comeback campaign with the Cubs (4.4 fWAR, 136 wRC+ in 2023), The Yankees are betting they can help him get back to that level. If Bellinger reaches anywhere near his All-Star potential, he is a steal for the Yankees.
Tucker, of course, is a huge success for the Cubs, but since they had to give up three players, including top third base prospect Cam Smith, to the Astros for a one-year rental, the Bellinger trade was both a cornerback for the Yankees and a move Reasonable payroll reduction in Chicago that would allow it to address other areas of need.
Rowan Kavner: I like both trades, but I prefer the Cubs since they got the better player and star player they desperately needed. Tucker, who bolsters the Cubs' crop of above-average talent, is very likely to be the best player not named Juan Soto in a different uniform in 2025. Tucker may have been overshadowed by other notable figures in Houston, but he slots in right behind Aaron the judgeSoto and Mookie Betts for the most wins above replacement accumulated by an outfielder over the past five seasons.
Tucker is also one of only seven bigs to be worth more than 4.0 WAR in each of the last four years, which shows his consistency. That he was able to do so again in 2024, despite playing in only 78 matches, is what confirms the extent of his ambitions. At 28 next year, the Cubs will be getting one of the best players in the sport who is still in his prime. His salary, which will likely be in the $15-$16 million range in his final year of arbitration, should represent a big deal.
Of course, getting the best player requires more surrender. The Cubs could afford to part ways with Isaac Paredes to open the way for top prospect Matt Shaw, but losing 2024 first-round pick Cam Smith — who instantly became the Astros' top prospect — was a big deal. So, if you judge these two trades strictly by who came and who went, I can understand favoring the Bellinger trade. No disrespect to Cody Poteetbut he won't factor heavily into the Yankees' plans in 2025.
The Yankees needed help in the outfield and at first base and an injection of talent into a lineup now missing Soto, and Bellinger checks both of those boxes, even if he doesn't produce to the level of his $27.5 million salary last season (which is the reason he wasn't selected).
After an unceremonious end to his tenure in Los Angeles, the 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 National League Player of the Year bounced back in his first season in Chicago in 2023 by sacrificing power for contact. He cut his strikeout rate nearly in half while finishing 10th in MVP voting, though he greatly exceeded his projected numbers. In 2024, he returned to Earth. However, he should help in the Bronx, where his left-handed bat is producing more home runs than he did at Wrigley Field. In a barren center field market, the Yankees found a solid player to roam around center field without losing any significant pieces.
But neither team should do that yet. The Yankees need more offensive help, and adding Bellinger would look even better if they could also add one of the best corner outfielders on the market. In the meantime, the Cubs need to use the money they saved in Bellinger's salary pool to add more pitching. So, we should have a better answer to this question in a couple of months!
Disha Thosar He is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Disha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DishaThosar.
Rowan Kavner MLB Writer for FOX Sports. He has previously covered the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. Rowan, an LSU graduate, was born in California, grew up in Texas, and moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @Rowan Kavner.
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2024-12-18 03:23:04
