Yankees could trade 30-home-run, 90-RBI slugger this offseason

The New York Yankees could make a surprising move this offseason by trading one of their most productive hitters. Luis García Jr. finished the 2026 MLB season with 30 home runs and 91 RBI while hitting .291 with an .876 OPS. https://t.co/yguenmkAA8 Part 2 breaking down how the Yankees should handle each position this offseason. Today first base: Can Rice get better there and what is García’s best use, including would he help most as a trade chip? — Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 13, 2026 His offensive production may actually make him a valuable trade chip as New York looks to reshape its roster, and by trading a player coming off a breakout season, they could get a better return. MORE: Every MLB team’s most recent playoff win: Which franchise has the longest drought? Yankees could capitalize on García’s breakout season García put together the best power season of his career in 2026, reaching the 30-homer mark for the first time. He also drove in 91 runs while producing a .291 batting average and .876 OPS across 478 at-bats. The Yankees acquired García from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline after he had already established himself as one of the National League’s more productive hitters. At the time of the trade, García was hitting .283 with 23 home runs and 76 RBI while leading the NL in slugging percentage. His performance after arriving in New York further demonstrated why the Yankees could have legitimate trade value in García. He finished the regular season as a 30-home-run, 90-plus-RBI hitter and showed plenty of power from the left side. However, the Yankees may have a more important need elsewhere on the roster. MORE: Brewers’ Logan Henderson makes MLB postseason history not seen since 1942 Trading García could help solve Yankees’ third-base problem The Yankees should consider moving García this offseason, not because the organization doesn’t value his bat, but because trading from a position of strength could allow the club to address a weakness. García is a left-handed hitter who primarily played first base for New York after the trade. The Yankees could also consider moving him back toward second base, but his offensive production gives the organization another option: use him as a trade chip to improve the roster elsewhere. The biggest question is whether the Yankees can find a better way to allocate that roster spot and offensive value. Ben Rice was the team’s best hitter, and he too is a left-handed hitter who plays first base. That could make García expendable if New York believes it can turn his value into help at third base. The position has been a major weakness, and the Yankees could potentially use García’s trade value to acquire a more natural fit. Trading a 30-homer, 91-RBI hitter would certainly be risky. But if the Yankees can turn García into a significant upgrade at third base, moving him could ultimately make the entire roster better. —  Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter  —