With Juan Soto joining the New York Mets on a historic deal, the New York Yankees now face the challenge of boosting their offense for the 2025 season. One potential solution could be a blockbuster trade for outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros.
Tucker, a left-handed power hitter, has become a consistent offensive force over the past four seasons, slashing .280/.362/.527 while averaging 28 home runs, 29 doubles, 90 RBIs, and 77 runs scored per year since 2021. His estimated salary for 2025 is $16.7 million, which is his final year of arbitration before hitting free agency. The Astros are reportedly open to trade discussions, making Tucker a tantalizing target for teams like the Yankees.
MLB Network proposed a hypothetical trade to land Tucker:
- Yankees receive: Outfielder Kyle Tucker
- Astros receive: Right-handed pitcher Luis Gil, catcher/first baseman Ben Rice, and infielder Roderick Arias
This proposed deal would likely be a steep price, considering Tucker would only have one year of team control remaining. Arias is ranked as the Yankees’ fourth-best prospect by MLB.com, Rice showed promising power in the minors with 24 homers and a .968 OPS in 2024, and Gil recently won American League Rookie of the Year honors after posting a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA, 171 strikeouts, and a 1.19 WHIP over 151 2/3 innings.
For the trade to make sense, the Yankees would likely need to secure a long-term extension with Tucker, as his market value is estimated at seven years and $195 million, per Spotrac. While intriguing, this kind of trade would represent a significant investment, especially given the high price and uncertainty of only having Tucker for one year without an extension.
