The New York Yankees have suffered a lot of heartbreak in recent months after losing the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers and now losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets.
Now that the Soto lottery is over and the Yankees must face the reality of life without Soto, the team will likely look for a replacement for their former superstar outfielder.
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal revealed that Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros could be a player the Yankees are pursuing in the wake of the Soto news.
“He’s the perfect replacement for Soto,” Rosenthal said via Foul Territory on “X.”
“He is a perfect replacement for Soto.”@Ken_Rosenthal: doubts @Yankees: can hit linebacker Kyle Tucker @Astros: pic.twitter.com/h9wcAkki9o
— FoulTerritory (@FoulTerritoryTV) December 10, 2024
Tucker is not a free agent as he has one year left on his contract with the Astros, but Rosenthal believes the Yankees could try to trade the outfielder.
The Yankees may fear that Tucker will do what Soto did, come to the team for one year and then sign elsewhere in free agency, but Rosenthal believes he is the perfect replacement for Soto.
Tucker entered the league in 2018 with the Astros and spent all seven years of his career with the team.
The three-time All-Star has had an exceptional game over the past few seasons, and while he’s not the same hitter as Soto, he’s a better baseman and a better fielder.
In 2024, Tucker played in 78 games where he hit .289 with 23 home runs, 49 RBI and a .993 OPS.
If the Yankees were to trade Tucker this offseason, they would face the same scenario as Soto next season when Tucker becomes a free agent.
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