The Yankees have already expressed interest in bringing Bellinger back. However, he will not be cheap, and if the Yankees are going to spend money, why not spend big and get an even better player? Bellinger did plenty of great things for the Yankees, but he is not the best outfielder available this offseason.

Kyle Tucker’s free agency figures to be the one to watch this winter. The Yankees could pursue him, but Fernando Tatis Jr. may also be available this winter. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale shockingly tabbed Tatis as a trade candidate. FanSided’s Christopher Kline tabbed Tatis as a fit for the Yankees in a blockbuster trade.

“The New York Yankees are at risk of losing two outfielders to free agency, with Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham both hitting the open market,” wrote Kline on Monday. “Bellinger feels more likely to re-sign, and Jasson Domínguez will almost certainly factor into New York’s solution, but the door is open for a blockbuster trade. Tatis was not at his best this past season, but his ceiling is among the highest in MLB as a five-tool superstar with incredible raw power — and, importantly for New York, a history of clutch postseason hitting. He can help counterbalance Aaron Judge’s October slumps and give the Yankees a bit more juice in their quest to reclaim the AL East.”

Tatis is a three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, two-time Gold Glover and two-time Platinum Glover. Last season, he had a .814 OPS and hit 25 home runs. Even in what was considered a down year, Tatis posted a better OPS than Bellinger. Tatis has nine years and $292 million remaining on his 14-year, $340 million deal.

He will cost more than bringing Bellinger back, but he would add another superstar to the lineup. Tatis could be the running mate for Judge that the Yankees hoped Juan Soto would be. Tatis is already under contract for years to come, so the Yankees do not have to worry about losing him in free agency.

Nightengale noted that the Padres may not want to trade Tatis, but because of their inflated payroll, one of their stars will “eventually have to depart,” and Tatis has the most trade value.

While Tatis is a great player, he has often been criticized for trash-talking and having a big personality. He was also suspended for 80 games in 2022 for testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing drug. He is a controversial player, but he has also done nothing but produce at the big league level. He has 152 career home runs in six seasons and a career .868 OPS.

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