Yankees Star Pitcher Named as Potential Trade Chip This Offseason
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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.
Forgotten Packers tight end is attracting multiple trade offers
The Green Bay Packers no longer need Luke Musgrave. The third-year tight end is not involved in the offense as a pass catcher, drawing seven targets all year. Even for blocking assignments, the Packers have deployed him sparingly. There is an obvious reason for his relegation to the sidelines. That reason is Tucker Kraft, who has emerged as one of the NFL’s top tight ends and already notched two 100-yard games this season. With Kraft on the field for 469 snaps, third-most among tight ends, Musgrave is simply irrelevant.
His status on the roster is clear for all to see, and teams are calling the Packers with buy-low offers. Per Easton Butler of Packer Report, both the Chiefs and Jaguars have had a chat with GM Brian Gutekunst about the possibility of acquiring Musgrave. So far, the offers haven’t been good enough to pique the Packers’ interest.
Despite all the injuries, Musgrave is worth more than three magic beans
Via Butler:
Even with Musgrave’s reduced role in Green Bay, there is value in having him around in case Kraft gets injured, or just to plug him here and there to give the TE1 a breather. How bad would it look if the Packers flipped Musgrave for a 5th-round pick and Kraft got hurt two weeks later? He has already had one injury scare this season, a knee injury in practice that, thankfully, ended up being minor.
Green Bay Packers: Will Luke Musgrave's Return Affect Tucker Kraft? Matt LaFleur Teases Big Plans for 2-Tight Ends Attack 2 Tight ends Kraft (85) and Luke Musgrave (88) during the 2023 Green Bay Packers’ rookie minicamp on Friday, May 5, 2023 at the Don Hutson Center indoor practice facility in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Of course, with John FitzPatrick also available for backup duties – the Packers have some flexibility. A former 213th overall pick, FitzPatrick probably doesn’t have Musgrave’s ceiling, whatever that may be at this point in his career, even with the latter’s injury history. Still, FitzPatrick is a body at the tight end position.
Musgrave himself is a former 2nd round pick, taken 42nd overall in 2023, the same draft in which Green Bay chose Kraft 36 picks later. Injuries limited Musgrave to 18 games during his first two seasons, paving the way for Kraft to surge ahead of him on the depth chart. Before injuries erased his rookie December, he was the more featured of the two tight ends in Green Bay’s offense. In 11 games he caught 34 passes for 355 yards.
In the playoffs that year, it was Musgrave, not Kraft, who produced at a higher clip. In the Wild Card Round against Dallas, he hauled in three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Packers fired up about Luke Musgrave's 2025 upside 2 Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave (88) catches a pass during Green Bay Packers Family Night on Aug. 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Health issues caught up to him last season, however, and Kraft was well on his way taking over the lead role, anyway. Musgrave totaled 45 receiving yards in seven games last season and has six receptions for 54 yards in 2025. Clearly he is dispensable, meaning the Packers should listen to offers, and yes FitzPatrick exists, but he is valuable enough as a backup that they shouldn’t throw him away for cheap.
