It has been a quiet offseason for the New York Yankees, but the ongoing MLB rumors are growing louder. The Yankees could still look to make a splash in free agency by landing a big fish like Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Tucker.
Another path New York could take is to improve the club’s roster via trade. The San Diego Padres face a decision about the team’s payroll and there has been plenty of chatter that the franchise could move on from one of their stars.
If Fernando Tatis Jr. is available, the Padres should find plenty of suitors. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa suggested San Diego could hit the “nuclear” button to improve the team’s financial outlook by trading Tatis. The analyst labeled the Yankees as a potential suitor if Tatis becomes available.
“Put Tatis on the trade market and the interest would be significant,” Axisa wrote in a December 15, 2025, story titled, “Five offseason trades the Padres could use to solve payroll crunch, including nuclear Fernando Tatis Jr. move.” “His contact/power/defense skill set aligns perfectly with how the American League champion Toronto Blue Jays build their roster.
“The Detroit Tigers could use a player like Tatis. Ditto the Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and more. Know where Tatis would fit especially well? With the Los Angeles Dodgers, though I don’t recommend holding your breath waiting for the Padres to trade Tatis to their hated rivals.”
Let’s dive into Tatis’ potential fit with the Yankees.
Padres Star Fernando Tatis Jr. Has a Sizable 14-Year, $340 Million Contract
Tatis comes with a hefty 14-year, $340 million contract that is slated to run through 2034. The 3-time All-Star batted .268 with 159 hits, 71 RBI and 25 home runs in 155 appearances for the Padres in 2025.
The Yankees would not only have to take on Tatis’ sizable contract but give up a haul in a trade. San Diego may not be able to get an ideal return in a Tatis trade.
“It is a ruthless business too,” Axisa added. “When you need a cup of water, teams give you sand. If the Padres indicate Tatis is truly available, teams will know it is for financial reasons, not baseball reasons, and they’ll offer 75 cents on the dollar. Maybe less.
“Trading superstars is bad business. In this case, the Padres are unlikely to get a sufficient return baseball-wise, and the PR hit would be about as bad as imaginable. Remember those attendance numbers earlier? Forget about seeing them again in 2026.”
The Yankees Have Hinted That More Moves Are Coming Amid MLB Rumors
It remains to be seen how the Yankees will finish this offseason. New York appears to be banking on re-signing Cody Bellinger, but the club fell short even with the star on the roster in 2025. Manager Aaron Boone hinted that additional moves are coming in New York.
“I know we have a really good team right now,” Boone explained on December 20, per Yahoo Sports. “We have a lot of really good players on our roster — it’s probably not finished, there will be some tweaks up until spring training.
“It takes more than just us to tango. It takes other clubs, obviously free agents and the opportunities they have in front of them — however it lands, my expectation is we’re going to be really good and that’s how we’ll prepare.”
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