The New York Yankees offseason depends on where Juan Soto decides to sign and for how much. Soto is priority 1-1,000 for Brian Cashman and Co., and they’re unlikely to make any significant moves until they know if they’ll be able to put the 26-year-old superstar in the middle their roster next season and for many more seasons to come.

But even if Soto chooses to return to the Bronx, it will only be the first (very big) step in a critical offseason. New York will still have several holes to fillincluding a first baseman, another corner outfielder and a second baseman to replace Anthony Rizzo, Alex Verdugo and Gleyber Torres, respectively.

It turns out that the Chicago Cubs might have a few players available who exactly fit such a description. Recent reports suggest the team was taken aback and a little disheartened by Cody Bellinger’s decision to opt out of his contract through the 2025 season, and could look to give up the $27.5 million he’s owed this year in order to free up some payroll flexibility. Second baseman Nico Hoerner could also be on the trading blockas top infield prospect Matt Shaw knocks on the door of the Majors after a sensational appearance at Triple-A to end the year.

So you can understand how Emmanuel Berbari of SNY’s Baseball Night in New York came up with the following exchange. What’s more confusing is exactly why he thought the Cubs would accept.

If this seems like a one-sided deal, well, you’re not wrong. Let’s go.

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From the Yankees’ perspective, this one is pretty simple. The team was interested in Bellinger before signing with the Cubs last offseason, and it’s easy to see why: Bellinger’s swing is seemingly tailor-made for the small porch at Yankee Stadium, and even though he no longer the outfielder he once was, he’s still more than capable of playing left field – and proved to be an excellent first baseman in Chicago after a knee injury left him forced to play on the field. The outfield market is awfully thin this winter, and acquiring Bellinger might be more attractive than bidding teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves for Teoscar Hernandez or Anthony Santander.

Hoerner, meanwhile, isn’t expected to miss too much time next year as he recovers from offseason elbow surgery. He doesn’t offer a lot of power at the plate, but the Yankees have plenty of it elsewhere. What Hoerner brings is elite defense at second base and terrific baserunning, two areas in which New York was sorely lacking in October (and really all year). Hoerner is exactly the kind of smart, contact-oriented spark plug that would balance out this lineup and he still has two years left on a very team-friendly extension.

And what does Cashman have to give up to put two above-average big men at positions of need? Two of his best hopes, but as we’re about to get into it, it’s a terribly misleading characterization.

New York Yankees trade grade: A

Jones has been one of New York’s brightest prospects since the team drafted him 25th overall in 2022. A 6-foot-6, 235-pounder with lighting tower power and the ability to occupy all three outfield spots, Judge Aaron Unsurprisingly, the comparisons came early and often. But it’s worth remembering that Judge represents the 99th percentile outcome for his player type, the exception that proves the rule. And while Jones has shown real flashes in his professional career thus far, he’s also shown a worrying penchant for swinging and missing, striking out 200 times at Double-A in 2024. The power is real, but he will have to do it. making real progress in his strike zone control and pitch recognition to get closer to Judge as a hitter in the Majors.

Warren, meanwhile, is coming off a season in which he posted a 5.91 ERA over 23 starts at Triple-A and an ugly 10.32 mark during a brief appearance in the Majors. These numbers are a little misleading: Warren has struck out 136 batters in 109.2 minor league innings this season, with a sweeper and a bat-eating sinker, and there’s a reason he’s been considered one of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects for the season. the last two years. Still, he doesn’t yet have the command he needs to make his arsenal work, and at this point it appears his ceiling is a solid No. 3 or 4 starter.

So here’s a burgeoning outfielder, an OK pitching prospect and…rotation depth in Stroman that the Cubs know all too well and could probably find cheaper on the open market. It’s hard to see why this would shake things up for Jed Hoyer, especially considering the young outfield depth Chicago already has with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara.

Chicago Cubs Trade Grade: D