Astros Star Slugger Could Be Surprise Offseason Trade Candidate For Yankees

Could the Yankees actually link up with the Astros on an offseason blockbuster deal?

The New York Yankees need to get creative this offseason.

New York won just 82 games in 2023 but has plenty of talent on the roster. The Yankees are just a few pieces away from contending for a playoff spot and could be back in the postseason as soon as 2024. This offseason will be extremely important for the club's future. The Yankees have money to spend and a few holes on the roster that could easily be filled.

The Yankees need to add outfield help this offseason and have been linked on numerous cases to Chicago Cubs star Cody Bellinger. While this seems like the most likely route, another move that could be in the cards for the Yankees could be a surprising trade for Houston Astros star Kyle Tucker, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman.

"The same question should be asked of the Astros about Kyle Tucker," Sherman said." This is one I never would have thought of had an executive not recently mentioned to me a series of reasons why Houston should consider moving him. The Astros have been to the (American League Championship Series) for seven straight seasons. They still have a roster that could challenge for a title in 2024, especially if Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. can return successfully to the rotation during the year and Jose Abreu’s late success is an indicator he got comfortable in Houston and is about to have a strong 2024....

"So will Houston just keep everyone and try to win as much as possible with this core and let (Alex Bregman) and Tucker leave in free agency? Or do they try to get in front of it? Could Tucker handle center field for, say, a year? Even if you don’t think he could, his lefty bat and all-around game should make him interesting to the Yankees and pretty much the whole industry."

New York has a solid farm system and could get a deal done if Houston actually decided to move Tucker. It's unclear if they actually want to trade the two-time All-Star, but if so, a move would make sense for New York. He has clubbed at least 29 home runs in each of the last three seasons, led the American League in RBIs in 2023, and has a career .272 batting average. He is exactly the type of player the Yankees need.