The Yankees, masters of almost landing their guy, might once again be pivoting from Plan A to Plan A-minus. As the Kyle Tucker dream inches toward a Cubs-colored nightmare, New York’s brass appears ready to shift gears with all the grace of a battleship turning in a bathtub. Naturally, that means breaking out the checkbook for a new “perfect fit”—because when in doubt, throw $13.5 million at the problem.
Kyle Tucker will be “The” name to be looking at in the offseason. With his contract running out after the 2025 season, teams will be lining up to get his signature. Two of those teams will be the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees. While the Yankees are the favorites to get him, what happens if they don’t? Who will be next for the Yankees if not Kyle Tucker?
It was reported by Adam Weinrib that there are 3 replacements that the Yankees can look at. The first backup is right-hand pitcher Zac Gallen. He might be a good replacement because of the injuries the Yankees are facing in their pitching rotation. In the 2024 season, Gallen finished the season with an ERA of 3.64, with 220 strikeouts in 192 innings. His durability is also good when compared to Gerrit Cole’s.
The second on the list is another couple of pitchers in Luke Weaver & Devin Williams. The Yankees might finally invest in their bullpen, something they have been very hesitant about. Devin Williams will be a top name in the offseason if he finishes the 2025 season strongly. Luke Weaver has already proven his worth in MLB and will be able to lead a pitching rotation to the top.
There is one other player who is not a pitcher and can be a fitting replacement for Kyle Tucker. The New York Yankees have chased Kyle Schwarber for years now, but have not been able to land him. With the Phillies unlikely to extend his contract after the 2025 season, the Yankees might finally have their opportunity. When looking at the 2024 season, Schwarber has outperformed Tucker in all the stats, including durability. Kyle Schwarber played a total of 150 games for the Phillies while Tucker sat out half the season with an injury.
So, while Tucker nursed his OPS to near-perfection from the dugout, Schwarber was busy mashing homers like it was his side hustle. If the Yankees miss out on Tucker yet again, it won’t be due to lack of options—it’ll be a test of how creatively they can pivot. After all, nothing says “dynasty” quite like replacing a five-tool star with a three-true-outcome slugger and a bullpen facelift.
Yankees rotation faces challenges as Gil’s return timeline shifts
The New York Yankees aren’t just juggling pitchers—they’re hosting an injury-themed variety show, and the audience is holding its breath. With starters dropping like flies and timelines turning into punchlines, New York’s once-formidable rotation is now a game of “who’s next?” Enter Luis Gil, the latest arm to hit pause on a return that was already running on fumes. Welcome to the Bronx, where even hope has a rehab schedule.
The Yankees have not been favored by the baseball gods this season when it comes to pitching. Just when the fans thought that Luis Gil was coming back to the rotation, fate flipped the script. It is being reported that Gil might not return to the mound till the end of June.
Luis Gil was expected to start for the Yankees against the Tampa Bay Rays, but when checked, the injury had not healed as expected. The next check-in will be in a few days, and the Yankees expect him to be throwing again in the next 10 days. When asked about this, Aaron Boone said, “It’s going as it should. We just need another 10 days.”
But in the Bronx, “just 10 more days” has started to sound more like a running gag than a recovery timeline.
With Luis Gil sidelined, Gerrit Cole out, and the rest of the rotation in various stages of repair, the Yankees aren’t just managing injuries—they’re managing expectations. The team may still find its stride, but for now, every pitching update feels less like progress and more like plot development in a long-running soap opera.
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