The tradeNationals get: RHP Jake Bird, RHP Yovanny Cruz, RHP Jack Cebert, RHP Ben GrableYankees get: INF Luis García, Jr. Yankees pay with quantity, not quality to get GarciaNationals: C
Yankees: AIn García, the Yankees acquire the unlikely NL leader in slugging percentage (.560), a 26-year-old lefty hitter who played three seasons as an everyday second baseman for Washington before switching to first base this season.He is yet another left-handed hitter for the Yankees, but they can’t afford to be picky: since Aaron Judge’s last game on May 31, the Yankees rank 25th in MLB in slugging percentage, at just .385.García doesn’t get on base much (.313 OBP) and he’s not fast, but he’ll put the ball in the right field seats, drive a lot of doubles, and improve an offense that really needs help. And while he’s generally a subpar defender, his versatility in the field gives the Yankees options.Getting a hitter like García for this year and next in exchange for journeyman relievers (Bird and Cruz) and low-round draft picks from 2025 (Grable, 11th round, and Cebert, 15th round) looks like a steal.Cebert and García failed to make Keith Law’s Top 20 Yankees’ prospects list before the season, and even now, MLB.com ranks Cebert 14th in the Yankees’ system and Grable 25th. Bird was decent for Colorado but struggled badly in New York and is currently in Class AAA. Cruz, who turns 27 this month, is pitching for his fourth organization and has appeared in four MLB games.
