The New York Yankees may find a trade partner in the National League to fill holes on their infield.
The Bronx Bombers have been linked to multiple players on the Chicago Cubs’ roster. The Yankees have needs on the right side of their infield, and the Cubs may be willing to trade away Cody Bellinger and Nico Hoerner.
Bellinger picked up his $27.5 player option for 2025 after a down year in 2024. He hit .266 with 18 home runs and 78 RBIs in 130 games. The 2019 National League MVP can play in both the outfield and first base. He spent most of his time in 2024 in right field. Bellinger also has a $25 million player option for the 2026 season.
Hoerner won’t provide you with power, but his ability to stay on the field, play solid defense, and run on the basepaths makes him a valuable player. He hit .273 with seven homers, 48 runs batted in, and 31 stolen bases. The second baseman won a Gold Glove in 2023 and his 3.7 WAR last season was his lowest mark in three years. Hoerner has two more years at $11.5 million on his contract before reaching free agency.
The trade value of either player is unknown but the Yankees have shown they want to upgrade their team in multiple ways.
Both Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo are free agents and neither player is expected to return to the Yankees for 2025. The team is likely to wait out the Juan Soto sweepstakes before making other offseason moves to field their 2025 roster.
Casey Fahrer is a 2024 graduate of Syracuse University and a contributor to Inside The Pinstripes. He can be reached at [email protected].
