The Yankees have been linked to such free-agent first baseman as Christian Walker and Pete Alonso this winter, and talks seemingly remain ongoing in some form with the Cubs about Cody Bellinger’s availability. Recent reports suggest that the Yankees and Cubs are upwards of $10MM apart in deciding how much of Bellinger’s salary will be covered by Chicago, and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman writes today that not much has changed in the stalemate between the two clubs. As Heyman puts it, “it’s a matter of ’who blinks first,’ if ever.”
If none of these targets end up being a fit, the Yankees are “also considering” several other backup plans. According to Heyman, these options include signing free agent Carlos Santana, or exploring a trade for the Guardians’ Josh Naylor or the Rangers’ Nathaniel Lowe. Given how Yankees GM Brian Cashman usually casts a wide berth in checking in on numerous players every offseason, it’s probably safe to guess that more than just these aforementioned first basemen have drawn some level of interest from New York.
Signing Santana would be the most straight-forward and cost-effective move of the bunch, as Santana will almost surely require just a one-year guarantee because he is entering his age-39 season. Despite his age, Santana rebounded from a few middling seasons to post a .238/.328/.420 slash line and 23 home runs for the Twins over 594 plate appearances in 2024, while also winning the AL Gold Glove at first base. The combination of offense and defense translated to 3.0 fWAR for Santana, the third-highest of his 15 Major League seasons.
This production will merit Santana a raise on the $5.25MM he received in his one-year deal with Minnesota last winter, but concerns over his age and possible regression will probably limit his salary. Signing Santana would also be a relatively low-upside play, whereas trading for Naylor or Lowe represents a higher ceiling for production.
Trading for Lowe would also mean more than just a one-year commitment, as the first baseman is arbitration-controlled through the 2026 season. Projected for a $10.7MM salary this year, Lowe is coming off another solid season that saw him hit .265/.361/.401 with 16 homers over 565 PA, and Lowe also delivered quality defense as a Gold Glove finalist behind Santana.
There was a little buzz about Lowe’s possible availability heading into the trade deadline last summer, but nothing in the way of concrete reports that Texas was seriously considering moving the 29-year-old. In re-signing Nathan Eovaldi and trading for Jake Burger, the Rangers are certainly aiming to return to contention in 2025, but moving Lowe to address another need on the active roster is a plausible tactic. Since the Rangers are known to be looking for left-handed hitting, however, however, dealing such a lefty swinger in Lowe would only serve to tilt the lineup further to the right.
Trading Naylor would also be an imperfect move for a Guardians team that needs offensive help, but Cleveland has typically looked maximize its return on notable players by trading them before they reach free agency. Naylor is therefore a more clear-cut trade candidate than Lowe, and Naylor’s projected $12MM arbitration salary won’t break the bank. While Lowe or the switch-hitting Santana would also be good fits hitting at Yankee Stadium, the short porch in right field seems taylor-made for Naylor’s left-handed power bat, and it is easy to imagine Naylor topping his career-best total of 31 homers (set in 2024) over a full season in the Bronx.
Kyle Manzardo and Jhonkensy Noel are the likeliest candidates to step in at first base for the Guardians if Naylor is traded, though that is putting extra pressure on a pair of inexperienced players, plus the Guards would also need some extra first base/DH depth in that scenario. Cleveland is also in need of outfield help, though the Yankees might not be a fit in that sense since they’re looking for outfielders themselves in the wake of Juan Soto’s departure.
Clu Haywood is available.
highly overrated
My goodness. Golly gosh.
How about Yankees trade Edgleen Perez and Cade Smith to the Cubs, in return for Belli and $7.5 million?
CUBS: do NOT blink. Bellinger is a perfect fit in Yankee stadium offensively and a perfect fit defensively for their roster. I’d rather keep Belli on our team than cave into Cashman.
it’s counterintuitive but now that the cubs have tucker i think they are less likely to trade bellinger. they’re set to seriously compete and if they’re throwing shaw into the fire having another high-floor player like bellinger makes sense
Where does one play Bellinger? CF covered by PCA, RF is Tucker, LF is Happe snd 1B is Busch. So Bellinger is a $25mil bench player?
You can sacrifice a little defense at 3rd and play Busch there. Bellinger goes to 1B. You can mix and match ABs at 2B and 3B for Busch if Hoerner isn’t ready in time. Plenty of ways to rotate guys in and out based on matchups.
Cub lineup looks a lot tougher with Belli and Tucker.
Of course not. You move Busch to 3rd, insert Shaw @ 2nd & Belli @ 1st. Trade Nico to the M’s for Castillo. Shaw is a much better fit @ 2B due to his fringy arm strength. There you go, happy to help.
@coop
Busch can’t play 3rd. He’s a butcher there.
Bellinger plays CF and PCA is fourth outfielder. Bellinger can hit and PCA doesn’t. Bellinger can still play solid defense.
My 2 cents. There’s ways the Cubs can make things work by keeping Belli. Finances not being considered. So that can be a challenge for Jed. Nico may not be ready to start the season. So the Cubs can mix and match 2nd Base and other areas around the field. Who knows if Shaw can handle the majors? Will Busch move forward?
Will PCA continue to improve? Nico can have a set back in his recovery. There’s also injuries that happen. Even if all goes extraordinarily well. These issues are a good issue to have and can work themselves out.
That part of the reason for Spring Training.
Suuuuuuure. If pretending Bellinger is more valuable than Crow-Armstromg convinces the Yankees to trade for Bellinger, I’m all for this wild claim.
He’s played 99 1 career innings, and all of them were in 2023 except for .1 with Chicago last season. That’s over parts of 23 games. That’s not much to go on to make a determination. Then move Hoerner to third. I don’t like that fit because he doesn’t have power, but he played a very good short for the Cubs the year before they signed Swanson, so he has enough arm. Again, these are not perfect fits, I’ll agree. But I saw noticeable improvement from Busch as a 1B as the year went on last season, so maybe he could do the same at third. Hell, we had Morel there, and I can’t imagine Busch being any worse.
If the cubs want to resign tucker which they should they need to move bellinger in the event he has a bad year and decides to stick around
Voice of Reason – But not in CF
Incorrect. He is definitely being traded
For what exactly?
Cashman wants Bellinger for no return plus he wants over $10mm in cash toward Belli’s salary. He can pound sand.
That’s what he’s worth. His MVP years were long, long ago. His peripherals are terrible (one of the lowest average exit velos in the league) and he is owed $52m over the next two years. He’s got substantial negative value.
It works out for the Cubs either way, their best lineup is with Tucker and Bellinger, could be big-time, exciting anyways. Caissie gonna whiff a lot gonna be a problem.
But if the Cubs traded Bellinger, they certainly add a piece to the rotation, or a couple prospects and save close to 30M so they can’t lose in that regard.
But the lineup looks very tantalizing with both Tucker and Bellinger starting in the OF. Can mix it up with Bellinger at 1st, and get PCA and Caissie some at bats. Don’t have to rely on either. Cubs are in a good spot in ’25. Can always add a starter at the deadline.
Why? Just wait for an overpay from them
Perfect fit or not, it is hard to see where the Cubs have a lot of leverage with the Yankees. There are plenty of good 1B options available. Bellinger ultimately has a contract that is underwater, with a lot of question marks around health and productivity. With the addition of Tucker, there is even a bigger need for the Cubs trade someone.
Bellinger has averaged 3 WAR worth 24 million max with a .2.3 WAR last year. The Cubs need to pay at least 5 million total to the Yanks everything being equal!
That’s deeply deceptive, as it’s entirely based on a miraculous 2023 when he didn’t hit the ball hard at all but somehow managed to hit basically every barreled ball out of the yard. Pure luck. He’s about a 2 win player and declining. On the open market in a two year commitment he’d be worth about $30-35m total. Bigly underwater, and then there’s all the 1B talent available on the market this year to consider, too.
Tyler Oneill just got 3 for 50. I am pretty sure bellinger would beat that price. You have to be a cardinals fan.
The Natural — But they will (and should). Bellinger is—as you say—tailor made for Yankee Stadium but the Cubs should lose Bellinger and his contract if they can. I’ll bet it gets done.
However, if another team picks up LaMonte Wade Jr. that might free up the Guardians, Rangers or another club to trade their first baseman to the Yanks. Wade (who is an excellent defensive player with great OBP) might also be an option for the Yanks (his HR totals would go up in the Bronx).
I hope the Yankees only get cody if they don’t have to pay so much of his salary.
But that’s the whole point of the Cubs wanting to move Belli. Everyone talks about not having room for Cody. It’s not that at all. The cheapskate owner doesn’t want to pay the tax again. Hoyer stupidly just barely crossed the line last year despite not making the postseason.
bregman and now naylor? might as well sign curt schilling so i can properly hate my own team
Underrated comment
How can you hate Bregman? Because he’s an Astro? Come on, the guy’s a great player.
Rumor has it Jon Singleton is available
My thoughts exactly.
Also Ty France would look good at first base for the Yanks! Buy low bargain!
More entitlement. Good god. ITA forever
As I said in other threads, I feel Bellinger is almost cookie cutter of what the Yankees look for these days- popular named player, some past success, power. I won’t be surprised in the least if they trade for him
I’m not sure who the Yankees could even trade for two years of Lowe. Multiple relievers or a Starter maybe. Lowe has an identical OPS plus with Christian Walker over the last 3 seasons and is 4 years younger than Walker.
Who says Yankees want Lowe? He’s a low impact player
The article speculates that the Yankees want Lowe…maybe learn to read. Lowe has the same OPS plus as Bellinger across the last two seasons. So he is a similar offensive player to the other options the Yankees appear to be considering at 1B. Thanks troll
Bravo jhonny
Umm, excuse me. I don’t read because half the writers here don’t even post real stories, like for the fact the Royals were after Juan Soto. All stories are speculative, whether they are indicative of reality or not. I came here for the comments. I doubt Yankees are getting Lowe, buddy. Better chance they get Bellinger
That being said, I’d love the Yankees to get lowe-impact Lowe. He’s just not that good. He’s incredibly streaky and goes through long stretches of doing nothing offensively. His numbers don’t lie but they don’t exactly tell the whole truth either.
So, you just going to be rude to me because you’re some big “TR” member with a medal on your name? Well, I don’t care. I’ll say it how it is. And my name is my name, I can still post here too, so take the load off your shoulders and maybe be respectful for once. If your beloved writers actually write something of substance, I’ll read.
What, for having a “TR” medal on his name? He just wasted his money to read articles by these clowns
I’d still bank on Bellinger and his 4.4 WAR in 2023. His homerun numbers will balloon in Yankee Stadium.
Nate isn’t really even a big power bat and has consistently had the same numbers the past few years, albeit the terrible streaks.
I’d take my chances Bellinger is better at Yankee Stadium. It’s just the price.
Bro is heated over nothing at all, I do agree with the Bellinger take hopefully as a Cubs fan but damn troll holy Kendrick vs Drake here.
I’m sick of coming on here and everyone being nasty. They’re the real trolls. Learn some respect. I attacked the player, not them. It’s stuff like this that makes me wanna create a username the biggest tr0ll. The people on this forum are so egotistical and think they know everything. Show some compassion.
I’m heated over plenty. It’s called respect and many members here don’t have it
Why don’t they have a 1b in house prospect? Oh, I forgot! Their prospects are always highly overrated
Cubs take back DJ LeMahieu to balance out the money, Yankees add a low level prospect/lottery ticket player as a sweetener. Seems pretty simple.
Lemahieu has a nasty contract the Yankees probably need to pay 15 or 20 million of it to make the deal work.
SCJohn : the Cubs do not have to trade away salary, Bellinger still has talent, so just adding a low level prospect with DJLM is not a reality.
And ANY team would be foolish or desperate to take on DJ LeMahieu’s contract. It is an albatross, and Yankees would have to either suck it all up to get anything of worth in return, or add a high level prospect the other way to get some team to take that anchor on. It’s not Robbie Cano money, but it’s a lot of chump change for a chump. And at least the Mets got Edwin Diaz with Robbie Cano. See my point?
Yes they do imissjoe. Ricketts doesn’t want to pay the luxury tax again after Hoyer barely crossed the first line last season
No, because the whole point of the Cubs wanting to move Belli is to offload as much of his salary as possible. Hoyer is trying to save his job by walking a tightrope of trying to stay under the tax line while tiptoeing into the tournament.
Just get the Bellinger deal done already. What’s $10 million amongst friends?
Exactly. This is what really irritates me sometimes about Cashman. The Yanks need Bellinger much more than they need to win the $10MM staring contest. Penny wise and dollar stupid.
Word Clip! I hope this gets resolved quickly. We do have other needs to address, and there aren’t many left-handed bats available.
That is exactly right, Clip. As usual, you are spot on my friend.
You can complain now and complain if he under performs like DJ even worse plays like Donaldson.. Player need to perform to make a deal work, most times with the Yanks they under perform. That’s on the player not the GM.
They don’t need Bellinger in the slightest. There are like 6 better, or as good, 1B available.
Exactly, Hoyer has pissed away more than that on marginal/bad signings resulting in $10-$30 mil in dead money (depending on the year)
Yet he doesn’t make the postseason.
“Trading Naylor would also be an imperfect move for a Guardians team that needs offensive help, but Cleveland has typically looked maximize its return on notable players by trading them before they reach free agency.”
The time tested get table scraps from big market teams before they just take your guy next year anyway move.
Trash league.
What do the Yankees have to trade if they can come together on how much money the Cubs offer?
Probably already have those names agreed upon, and to my understanding, the centerpiece of the trade is prospect Will Warren, based on reports that surfaced.
They could have Stroman back!!!
I was so excited when the Cubs initially signed Stroman too. Seemed like a good rotation stabilizer. But I think he’s burned those bridges here in Chicago.
Wouldnt it be funny
If pete & juan stayed in ny
Just switched tms
why would it be funny
It wouldn’t, not at all
Brian Cashman trying to ruin another easy decision for the Yankees…..
Hal has said that Cashman has 50 million left to spend, and you don’t care about 10 million that’s 20% of what he has left. That might be the difference of landing Walker/Berkman/ Alonzo or someone else!
When did Hal say that?
I hope the Yankees take on the whole deal and dump a busted prospects on them like Pereira. If the Cubs want an actual return then they should eat 5-10 million.
I want to play poker with you
Bottom line is everyone is trying to beat the Dodgers, Cubs are not close!
As a Cubs fan it seems they don’t want anything more than the Yankees to take the cash and give them someone like Warren. They just want to use the money on the bullpen or a starter. If the Yankees don’t blink they might pivot to trading Suzuki but that would require a more real prospect.
@ Polishuk
“Cashman usually casts a wide berth”
“Casts a wide berth” means to deliberately avoid someone or something, keeping a large distance away, similar to how a ship would give another vessel a wide berth at sea to prevent a collision; essentially, it means to stay far away from something or someone on purpose.
it’s the “wide net” you are looking for Cashman to cast
congrats Sal, you missed your calling as a copy editor !
good catch
slow news day…
maybe a Vlad Jr for Aaron Judge framework can be worked out
It’s hard for me to believe that a $10 million gap is stopping a deal between two high-revenue clubs like the Yankees and Cubs. Split the difference and that’s a $5 million give for each club. Which nowadays is the price for a backup catcher.
My guess is that the Cubs are asking for a prospect the Yanks don’t want to lose. We’ll see if this endlessly rumored deal ever gets done.
They are asking for the prospect (Will Warren) and the money, or else this would be done already.
The Yankees only have 1 prospect worth more than a salt shaker and a bag of peanuts and he’s needed in the OF with Soto and Duggie gone. (29th of 30 farms) Lol eventually trading your farm catches up with you when you harbor huge contracts of aging oft injured stars of yesterday production. They’ll run their unsuccessful last gasp attempt to avoid the inevitable rebuild surely needed in ny but ultimately its a 16th year of championship drought for the pinstripes and maybe 7 to 10 more yrs while they rebuild the mess they made. No rings until maybe 2035 in kiddieland fld.
I’d love to see your source for the Yankees farm being ranked 29th in the league
My bet is on the Yankees signing Alonso as a way to “get back at” the Mets for “stealing” Soto.
Alonso loves NYC and his power hitting fits well with the Yankees style.
I see a trade coming for a 3B for the Mets. Suarez from the Diamondbacks? Arenado from the Cards? Obviously Arenado is the bigger name and a much, much better defensive player than Suarez. He might be cheaper in prospects too because of his salary. Can you imagine the defense on the left side with him and Lindor?
Vientos is not a good defensive 3B. I think he is better suited to 1B.
Then the Mets sign Burnes.
The Yankees would only get back at the Mets if they drive the price up on Alonso and the Mets sign him. Signing Alonso would be salt in the wound for the Yankees. We don’t want him. Bellinger would bring back some of the left-handed balance that we lost.
The chances of the Yabkees wanting to sign Alonso are similar to the Rays signing Juan Soto. I’d rather resign Rizzo and avoid the long commitment.
*Go Yabkees!!!
Actually, NY is big enough for 3 teams.
Run Rice Krispy Treats back out there at 1b lol Go Redsox!
Lemahieu has a nasty contract the Yankees probably need to pay 15 or 20 million of it to make the deal work.
You could say that most of the Yanks have under performed except for Judge.. Player earn their contracts or don’t with their play on the field. The GM has little to do with that
They could probably get Andrew Vaughn for peanuts…. And watch him become a real star in NY. Seems like a good change of scenery guy. Lots of promised potential that he inconsistently shows flashes of realizing.
Granted, he’s not a lefty… don’t know if that’s a sticking point.
The metaphor is “casting a wide net.”
“Casting a wide berth” is mixing that one with “allowing a wide berth.”
If Jed and the Cubs were “going to blink”, the deal would have already been done. All the pressure is on the Yankees. Further, his name is Cashman and money is the holdup:)
Sometimes you win with the trade you don’t make in baseball!
Yankees are under delusion that Cubs have to trade Belli
Actually, I think they do. As I’ve been saying, I believe Hoyer is under orders to stay under the luxury tax.
The Cubs also have the delusion that they are trying to trade a 27 million dollar player
Who.
I think Lowe would do well with the short porch in right, but for what they would have to give up I think they should roll with Rice and Santana.
I think the Cubs actually have to trade Bellinger so they can be in the market for players that they actually want and need to round out their roster. Keeping Bellinger on the Cubs hurt their chances for most of the big fish they desire.
You nailed it, all the semi contenders are trying to get rid of players they don’t want and get players they want.
I feel like even if the threw in $10M or even $15M the Cubs are winning this trade financially and mostly just want the salary relief so I dong get the hold up if there’s both serious.
Santana would be an interesting one year option, but probably gonna cost $10M or so.
The windows on Aaron Judge and Cole, are closing, if you go the cheap route as usual the windows will close and you still will not have gotten to the World Series again. they don’t seem to care, all they care about is saving money. I’ve gone this far, why cheap out now.
Yankees would have to be nuts to consider putting Carlos Santana in this lineup.
Tell ‘em about your arrest Joel and about the medicine you’re on
Not yankee related but now that the ink dried on the Soto contract he started talking and stated Machado is toxic and clubhouse cancer.
Absolutely NOT on Santana. Cashman…..do your job and make some deals!! Need to look into Bellinger, Horner, Yandy, Naylor and Donovan.
Wouldn’t be in this situation if they just signed Harper instead of trading for Stanton