SSTN Mailbag: Kyle Tucker, Red Sox Trade, Trade Targets, And Soto's Comments!

Well, there goes the offseason plan I had been developing. I joke often that I'm the Optimist-In-Chief around here, and I admit to having been at least mostly optimistic that Juan Soto would run it back with the Yankees. My reactions on the Bronx Beat Podcast last week were raw; we went on the air 15 minutes after the first leaks came out that Soto had signed with the Mets. I maintain that it will be very, very difficult to build a team with the upside that the 2024 Yankees had without Soto in the fold. However, it's not impossible, and the Yankees got my top free agent target in the non-Soto division, Max Fried. In fact, my offseason plan included some maneuvering to free up enough cash to sign Fried in addition to Soto.

I've gotten to the point now where I've moved on. It was really fun to watch Soto in pinstripes, and I'll miss watching the way he controlled the batter's box day in and day out. He did exactly what he indicated he would do from the moment he was traded to the Yankees: he took the best offer. Soto earned that right, and I don't blame him for taking the best offer. Could Hal Steinbrenner afford Soto's deal? Yes, absolutely. If Hal were the highest bidder, would we have been frustrated by constant references to fiscal restraint for the next decade-plus? Almost certainly. I remain torn by Hal's decision not to meet the bottom-line contract offered by the Mets. I am convinced that Hal could have afforded the contract, but I also recognize that it is entirely possible that Cohen would have kept upping the ante. The financial flexibility the Yankees have gained will allow them to spread some of the Soto money around, even if the loss of Soto hurts on the field for the next year or two. I just hope the Yankees make 2-3 more significant moves, because they need some bodies in order to be competitive next year. Reading the tea leaves, I think we'll have an exciting offseason to cover around here, which is nice.

As always, thanks for the great questions and keep them coming to SSTNReadermail@gmail.com. In this week's SSTN Mailbag, we'll talk about Kyle Tucker, the recent trade with the Red Sox, evaluate a couple of trade targets, and review Soto's comments at yesterday's press conference! Let's get at it:

Myke asks: What do you think about Kyle Tucker's availability and what would your best trade offer look like?

I remain very surprised that the Astros are really dangling Kyle Tucker out there. Tucker is the one outfielder seemingly available on the trade market or free agency that would legitimately make a Soto-like impact on the Yankees' lineup. Like Soto last offseason, Tucker only has one year of team control remaining, and it's clear that the Astros are playing in the shallower end of the pool now. More critically, their farm system that seemingly produced a never-ending stream of talent is getting very thin. There is no one coming to fill rotation spots and fill in around the field for the next 2-4 years. That would be compounded by losing Tucker in free agency. I still don't buy that Tucker is going anywhere unless the Astros are blown away by a trade offer, but I can squint and see the logic in trading Tucker now.

The Astros want at least one, possibly more, big league ready part alongside near-MLB ready pieces. If I were the Astros in their current situation, that's what I'd want as well, and strangely, the Yankees match up well on that front. A trade will absolutely hurt, and I'm still not entirely sure I'm up-to-the-minute on Tucker's value. The Astros have needs in the rotation, both infield corners, and they could use an impact outfielder if Tucker leaves. Here's my initial trade proposal:

Yankees Trade:

SP Luis Gil

OF Spencer Jones

1B/C Ben Rice

SS/3B/2B Oswald Peraza

Astros Trade:

OF Kyle Tucker

That's a lot of depth going out the door, but my offer feels light. We know the Astros like Gil, but I have no idea how they feel about Jones as the 2nd big piece. Jones is a divisive prospect, but some teams do view him as a future star, while others see the significant risk, and grade him accordingly. Rice has real pop, and should be a useful platoon corner infield bat that can moonlight behind the plate for a bit longer, and Peraza could get a chance to compete at a position of need around the infield. I feel like the Astros would want Peraza subbed out for a prospect with more potential impact, and I'd be willing to do that if I'm the Yankees, which is part of what makes me think I'm light.

Frank T. asks: Can you tell me about the kid the Yankees got from the Red Sox? Still amazing to see a world where the Red Sox and Yankees make trades...

Yes, it's still very strange to see a headline where the Yankees and Red Sox are trade partners, but it's happened sporadically over the last decade or so. The Yankees dealt the third catcher on their depth chart, Carlos Narvaez, for a non-zero pitching prospect and some international spending money for the signing period that ends in a few days.

I really like Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. He's very advanced for his age, and he has a skill I very rarely see anymore from young pitchers: he repeats his delivery beautifully. Watching video of him pitch, his stride foot hits in the same spot on the mound every time, and his arm slot and timing is very consistent pitch-to-pitch. Rodriguez-Cruz had a bump in velocity and stuff last season, and his best pitch is a tailing fastball that touches 98 MPH. He also has a slider that flashes plus, a curveball that he can use to change speeds, and an emerging splitter that he used effectively last season. In his age-21 season, I'd expect him to spend the year at A+, but with a little refinement in stuff, he could conceivably get a cup of coffee at AA.

Take this with a grain of salt, but he's a pretty high-confidence MLB starter if his development continues on this path. Rodriguez-Cruz will probably be on the fringes of some top-100 prospect conversations this offseason, which also tells you how valuable catching is on the trade market. Carlos Narvaez is a strong defensive catcher who likely won't hit much, so he should be a good backup. If Narvaez has this type of value, it affirms my contention that Jose Trevino has plenty of trade value this offseason.

Reg offers the following trade targets: [Alek] Thomas and Jordan Montgomery

It's funny, Jordan Montgomery was on my list of potential moves as part of a bad contract swap with the D'Backs. I expect Monty to have a rebound of some kind this season now that he'll have a normal offseason of training, and given the exorbitant prices people are paying for pitching this offseason, Monty's contract isn't an albatross. I like Monty, but I'm not sure the Yankees need him now that Fried is in the fold. The team has bigger holes to fill.

I have always been interested in Alek Thomas, but the reality is that we now have a large body of evidence that he can't hit MLB pitching consistently. I think there's a lot more there for someone to figure out, but I don't know that the Yankees are the team to do it, as they need pieces who can be winners right now. I also doubt the D'Backs will sell this low on Thomas.

I like both at varying prices, but I'm not sure either fit the Yankees at this moment.

Steven asks: Did anything stand out to you about Soto's comments at today's press conference?

Not really, save for one. Soto said, "It's been a Mets town for a long time," Soto said. "I think we just got to bring it to the top. Championships are going to tell you if it's a Yankees or a Mets town at the end of the day."

Someone needs to remind Soto that the Mets haven't won a World Series since 1986. Time will tell who will win New York. I'm not interested in winning the public appeal battle; I'm interested in championships. Time will tell which team really owns New York.