The Yankees were interested in trading Kyle Tucker. Instead, they brought in Cody Bellinger. It comes at a much different cost and requires generating a different type of revenue. Of course, the Cubs were involved in both trades that netted multiple All-Stars.
This sparked the following debate among MLB writers:
Which deal do you prefer: Yankees‘ deal with Cody Bellinger or Cubschange to ‘ Kyle Tucker?
Disha Tosar: There are a few different ways to look at this, but my answer is Bellinger against the Yankees. Especially since they essentially got him for free. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sent 30-year-old right-hander Cody Potitt (30) to Chicago in exchange for Bellinger. The veteran right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA in 24 games (13 starts) over three years in the major leagues between the Marlins and Yankees, and will serve as another deep member of the Cubs’ pitching staff. Of course, Poteet’s 2.22 ERA in 24.1 innings last year (including four solid starts while Gerrit Cole began the year on the injured list) was vital to the Yankees’ rotation.
But the trade agreement to part ways with Potee, the top prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, was as easy a decision for Cashman as deciding whether or not to suit up in New York during the winter.
Bellinger’s versatility on the field is key to this deal. Last season, the former MVP winner appeared defensively at all three outfield positions (right field in 49 games, center field in 48 games, and left field in one game) and played well at first base (22 games). With the flurry of activity in the Yankees’ front office this offseason, manager Aaron Boone could play Bellinger at center, right or first base to make up any remaining roster deficits until Opening Day approaches. As of now, Bellinger is best suited for first base or center field. That’s because Aaron Judge can move back to the right and Jason Dominguez can continue to expand the offense on the left. But if the Yankees sign Christian Walker or Teoscar Hernández, for example, Bellinger could fill the remaining positions.
So we know this deal made sense for the Yankees from a roster standpoint, but it was also fair financially. New York will pay Bellinger $25 million in 2025, the Cubs will cover the remaining $5 million from his previous contract, and if he doesn’t opt out, the Yankees will pay him $22.5 million in 2026 . If he does, the teams will split his $5 million buyout.
That is, the risk here is primarily financial. It seems impossible to predict which version of Bellinger the Yankees will get in 2025, especially after his offensive output declined in 2024. But Bellinger is just one year removed from his comeback campaign with the Cubs (4.4 fWAR, 136 wRC+ in 2023), so the Yankees are confident they can help him regain his former form. If Bellinger hits close to his All-Star potential, he will be a steal for the Yankees.
Of course, Tucker was a big gain for the Cubs, but the Bellinger trade was a layup for the Yankees because they had to give up three players, including third base prospect Cam Smith, to the Astros for a one-year lease. And there are reasonable salary reduction moves for Chicago that will allow them to address other areas of need.
Rowan Kabner: I like both trades, but I prefer the Cubs because they got a better player and the star they desperately need. Backing up the Cubs’ above-average talent, it’s very possible that Tucker will be in a different uniform in 2025 and the best player other than Juan Soto. Tucker may have been overshadowed by Houston’s other standout players, but he found his place on the right side. It’s the most wins above replacement accumulated by an outfielder over the past five seasons, trailing only Aaron Judge, Soto and Mookie Betts.
Tucker is also one of only seven big leaguers to be worth more than 4.0 WAR over the past four years, which speaks to his consistency. The fact that he did it again in 2024 despite appearing in 78 games speaks volumes about his limitations. The Cubs will be signing one of the best players in the sport, who turns 28 next year and is still in his prime. His salary in the final year of arbitration is expected to be between $15 and $16 million, which would be a significant discount.
Of course, getting the better player in question required more surrender. The Cubs could afford to part ways with Isaac Paredes to clear the way for top prospect Matt Shaw, but losing 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith, who immediately became the Astros’ top prospect, was significant. So, if you judge these two trades strictly based on who came and went, it’s understandable that they would prefer the Bellinger trade. No disrespect to Cody Poteet, but he probably won’t factor much into the Yankees’ plans for 2025.
The Yankees needed help in the outfield and first base and now need to inject talent into a lineup without Soto, and Bellinger checks each of those boxes, even if he doesn’t produce to the level of his $27.5 million salary last season. This is why he did not deselect).
The 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP bounced back in his first season in Chicago in 2023 by sacrificing power for contact after unofficially ending his LA tenure. He nearly halved his strikeout rate while finishing 10th in MVP voting, but he far exceeded expectations. In 2024, he came back to Earth. Still, he should help in the Bronx, where his left-handed hitters are expected to produce more home runs than at Wrigley Field. In a tight center fielder market, the Yankees looked for a solid player who could move around the position without losing a key piece.
But neither team should be done yet. The Yankees need more offensive help, and signing Bellinger would look better if they could add one of the top corner infielders on the market. Meanwhile, the Cubs should use the money they saved on Bellinger’s salary to add more pitchers. So we will have a better answer to this question in the coming months!
Disha Tosar I am an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter @Dishatosar.
Rowan Cavner He is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU graduate, Rowan was born in California and grew up in Texas before moving back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter. @Rowankabner.
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