The Yankees will be active in this winter’s trade market – they always are – and, as you read this, Brian Cashman and his staff are probably evaluating potential deal concepts that no one sees coming.
So their offseason will be a fun watch, as usual. We’ll try to play along with our list of suggested Yankees trade targets, which is below. The Yanks need relief, a righty bat, and to figure out some outfield configurations. We address it all.
We’d love them to add a contact bat. Can postseason Ernie Clement be cloned? We know the Blue Jays wouldn’t trade him to the Yankees, nor should they.
We’re unsure if the Yanks would pay the high cost of trading for Tarik Skubal, if he’s dealt. Or for the other big aces who – maybe – could be had (Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, Freddy Peralta). But they’ll definitely inquire on that kind of talent, to at least do a price check.
A big deal like that could flip the pinstriped winter, which would change our list. If one happens, check back with us. Everything on our list, of course, is contingent on how it goes in free agency, with their own free agents and with their own desire to promote from their farm.
Here are our rankings. Keep reading to see No. 1:
5. OF Adolis García, Rangers
This would’ve qualified as a blockbuster a few years ago, but García, 32, has had two consecutive down seasons. Now we’ll call it a potential buy-low. If the Yankees are looking to add a right-handed bat, García might be a decent bounce back candidate – he sagged to a .665 OPS and 19 homers last season in Texas, but still ranked in the 89th percentile in average exit velocity. In 2023, García smashed 39 home runs in an All-Star, Gold Glove season. Then he had an all-time ALCS, slugging five homers and driving in 15 runs en route to MVP honors. He had three homers and nine RBI over the final two games as the Rangers rallied from a 3-2 deficit to bury Houston. Sounds like the kind of postseason results that could boost the Yanks, eh?
4. RHP Mitch Keller, Pirates
Unlike many teams, the Yankees have the elements of a strong rotation in place with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren set for the start of 2026 and early-season returns looming from Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón. But what if they use some of their young pitching (Gil or Warren) in a deal to shore up the bullpen or to find a center fielder? They’d need reliable rotation coverage, which is where Keller comes in.
He’ll turn 30 in April and he’s got three years and $55.7 million left on his contract. He might be gettable because the Pirates, unlike many teams, have an abundance of young pitching, including the incomparable Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh’s MLB-worst offense (3.6 runs per game in 2025) needs help. Maybe the Yanks can trade the Bucs some young offense for Keller, who had a 4.19 ERA in 32 starts last season and has made at least 29 starts in each of the past four years.
3. CF Oneil Cruz, Pirates
He’s so toolsy that it’s easy to dream on Cruz, what with his power, speed and arm strength. He tied for the NL lead in steals (38) with Juan Soto and also slugged 20 homers, all while playing center field full-time for the first time. Might he be a pinstriped answer in center, depending on how the rest of their winter goes?
Cruz ranked in the 98th percentile or better in hard hit percentage, bat speed, and average exit velocity, which is plenty enticing. But he batted just .200 with a 32 percent strikeout rate and the Yanks already have a few low-BA, big-whiff types. Maybe Cruz, who’s just 27, just had a bad year and his career arc is still trending skyward. He had a 114 OPS+ and 58 extra-base hits as a shortstop in 2024.
2. RHP Pete Fairbanks, Rays
The Yanks have some nice bullpen pieces in place, such as David Bednar, but Devin Williams and Luke Weaver are free agents, so there is significant work to be done on Bronx relief. Fairbanks, who reached career-bests in games (61) and saves (27) last season, would be a nice target as a setup man for Bednar. The Rays hold a $12.5 million option on Fairbanks for the 2026 season. That might be pricey for a reliever on a team that traditionally does not spend lavishly.
Fairbanks, who turns 32 in December, relies mostly on a 97 mph fastball and slider combo and has addressed some of the command issues that have plagued him in the past. Last season, he trimmed his walk rate to 7.4 percent, below the MLB average of 8.4 percent. One caution – he’s dealt with injuries in the past, though he was healthy for all of 2025 and notched a 2.83 ERA.
1. OF Steven Kwan, Guardians
Kwan is a little different than most of the hitters the Yankees currently employ, which might make him a nifty fit. He’s a put-the-ball-in-play type (seventh in the AL with 170 hits last season) who does not strike out (8.7 percent strikeout rate). Could be a leadoff solution – he’s got a .351 career on-base percentage, though it was only .330 last season. He’s also an expert left fielder, with four straight Gold Gloves there, and Yankee Stadium is one of the most difficult left fields in baseball.
Kwan is also an efficient base-stealer (80.7 percent in 2025; MLB average was 77.6). He doesn’t pound extra-base hits, but he’d look good scoring on a bushel of Aaron Judge bombs, no? The Guardians might not be specifically looking to deal Kwan, but they’ve swapped players as they move through arbitration before.
