Yankees Star Pitcher Named as Potential Trade Chip This Offseason

Getty

Yankees could trade a star starting pitcher.

The New York Yankees could be aggressive this offseason, making plenty of moves.

New York enters the offseason with needs at pitching and in their lineup, after being eliminated in the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays. Heading into the offseason, Yankees analyst Andres Chavez of EmpireSports named Luis Gil as a potential trade chip.

“The Yankees face a dilemma. Gil is still just 27, affordable, and under team control for several more seasons,” Chavez wrote. “That kind of profile is gold for an organization trying to balance competing windows. If Gil can rediscover his 2024 form, he could once again become a vital piece in the rotation. But the Yankees are also in win-now mode, and they have pressing needs—particularly in the outfield, infield and bullpen.

“The rotation also needs more certainty. With the front office exploring creative ways to retool, Gil’s name could easily surface in trade discussions. “It nearly happened last offseason when he was mentioned as a possible centerpiece in a potential deal for Astros star Kyle Tucker before the Yankees shifted gears and acquired Cody Bellinger instead.”

Chavez believes if the Yankees have the chance to make a blockbuster move, Gil’s name could be part of those talks, as New York would be turning the page on a former Rookie of the Year winner.

“That history makes it clear the organization values Gil but isn’t blind to his market appeal. A young, controllable starter with past success is always attractive to rival clubs,” Chavez added. “Whether Brian Cashman views him as part of the solution or a means to acquire one will shape the winter.”

Gil went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts this season. He was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in the playoffs.

Analyst Urges Yankees to Move Gil to Bullpen

Although Chavez wants the Yankees to trade Gil, the team could make another surprising move.

MLB insider and analyst Chris Kirschner of The Athletic urged the Yankees to move Gil to the bullpen in 2026.

“Moving Gil to the bullpen would help simplify his mechanics in shorter outings, while also allowing him to rear back for the high velocity he has in his arm,” Kirschner wrote. “The Yankees have been searching for a multi-inning reliever since they traded Michael King two years ago as part of the deal to land Soto from the San Diego Padres. It’s worth experimenting to see if Gil can be that guy.”

If the Yankees were to move Gil to the bullpen, he could become a high-leverage reliever and help solidify the backend of the bullpen. But it would be a risky move, as if it doesn’t pan out, it’s unclear what his future would be.

Brian Cashman Reflects on 2025 Season

New York lost in the ALDS, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman reflected on the year.

Cashman said he was proud of some things he and the team accomplished, but it wasn’t good enough as they failed to win the World Series.

“We’ve had success and failure,” Cashman said after the year. “Obviously failed at our ultimate goal, and had some success, obviously, along the way. We had a good team, but fell short of our ultimate goal. I’ll leave it for the masses to debate what ultimately came out of it. Proud of a lot of things we accomplished and players that I knew were fighting, they were talented, they were fighting, they were committed. But it wasn’t good enough.”

The Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009.

Cole Shelton Cole Shelton covers the NHL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has covered pro and college sports since 2016, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton