Earlier than Kyle Tucker was traded from the Astros to the Cubs, the Yankees have been identified to be one of many groups additionally vying to land the star outfielder. Reigning AL Rookie of the Yr Luis Gil was reportedly of curiosity to the Astros in these commerce talks, however New York finally turned down Houston’s demand for Gil and infield prospect George Lombard Jr. in trade for Tucker, based on USA At the moment’s Bob Nightengale.
It makes for an fascinating distinction to the commerce bundle that the Astros did settle for from Chicago. Lombard and prospect Cam Smith may very well be considered as basically a match as current first-round draft picks, although Smith is greater regarded within the view of MLB Pipeline (Smith is 73rd on their top-100 prospect listing and Lombard isn’t on the listing). Gil is a controllable pitcher who has already made a reputation for himself on the huge league degree, so Isaac Paredes and Hayden Wesneski symbolize one thing of a break up of these two resume factors. Wesneski is managed via 2029 and has a stable 3.93 ERA over his 190 Main League innings, however he isn’t thought-about to have fairly Gil’s ceiling, so making up that distinction may’ve been achieved by including a confirmed hitter like Paredes.
Touchdown three gamers as an alternative of two clearly allowed the Astros to handle extra wants, as Paredes can assist fill one in all Houston’s nook infield vacancies and Wesneski brings rotation depth. Gil would’ve been a extra clear-cut set up into the Astros rotation and maybe then necessitated one other commerce, for the reason that Astros on paper have a surplus of rotation choices. Nonetheless, since Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. are each coming back from prolonged harm absences, the Astros may also wish to see how issues play out in Spring Coaching earlier than dealing an arm, let the membership once more get caught with an absence of depth within the rotation.
Apparently, the Yankees did certainly commerce a beginning pitcher and an infield prospect for a outstanding star participant with one 12 months remaining earlier than free company, besides moderately than Gil/Lombard for Tucker, it was Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin going to the Brewers for nearer Devin Williams. The 2 commerce packages have some variations, after all, as Cortes is a 12 months away from free company, and was considered a extra expendable a part of New York’s pitching combine since he was relegated to bullpen responsibility within the playoffs and was floated in commerce rumors on the deadline. Durbin can be over 5 years older than Lombard and is taken into account to be on the verge of his MLB debut, whereas Lombard has but to succeed in even the Double-A degree.
The timing of the negotiations between the Astros and Yankees was maybe additionally an element. If the Yankees have been already effectively down the highway in talks with Milwaukee about Williams, which may’ve made the Bronx Bombers much less prone to deplete their pitching and prospect depth even additional by accepting the Astros’ supply for Tucker. Some New York followers would possibly effectively surprise “why not each?”, as even with out Gil or Cortes, the Yankees nonetheless have a projected beginning 5 of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, Marcus Stroman, and newly-signed frontline arm Max Fried. Buying each Tucker and Williams would’ve left the Yankees nonetheless seeking infield assist and now a “sixth starter” kind of depth arm, however these are maybe minor query marks in comparison with the upside of bringing each an All-Star outfielder and All-Star nearer into the combo.
Gil is a identified amount to baseball followers, however the 19-year-old Lombard was the twenty sixth general decide of the 2023 draft. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline every rank Lombard because the third-best prospect in New York’s farm system, viewing him as a really stable all-around participant with five-tool potential, even when he maybe lacks a real plus-plus calling card. Lombard has performed largely shortstop within the minors and evaluators really feel he can stick on the place, however he has additionally seen time at second and third base. Lombard’s strategy and general hitting potential are each thought-about good, although he hit solely .231/.338/.334 over 497 mixed plate appearances with A-level Tampa and high-A Hudson Valley in 2024.
