MLB insider strongly denies ridiculous Yankees-Fernando Tatis Jr. rumors
Who would you rather consult on Yankees offseason news: a trusted baseball insider who had a hand in breaking yesterday’s three-way trade between the A’s, Braves and Brewers, or a former NHL goalie-turned-radio-host-turned-fan-of-getting-New-Yorkers-riled-up?
On Monday’s episode of The Baseball Insiders podcast, FanSided’s insider Robert Murray was forced to debunk rumblings that the so-called “big move” the Yankees had planned was a Fernando Tatis Jr. trade with the San Diego Padres.
Well, “forced to debunk” might be the wrong way to put it. Actually, Murray debunked it with glee.
According to Murray, the Padres are not shopping Tatis Jr., their $340 million man who’s currently at his lowest-ever value following a motorcycle accident and PED suspension. In fact, they plan to win the World Series with him in 2023, taking advantage of the Dodgers’ slow offseason and decision to “play the kids” with a spending spree for the ages.
In other words, no, they didn’t sign Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year deal just to trade a 23-year-old superstar at his lowest point. They want both.
Yankees will not be trading for Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr.
Sorry, former Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro. Per source, you talked to some of the wrong people over the weekend.
Tatis Jr. would be an electric Yankee if he weren’t so intrinsic to the Padres. So close.
Now, Manny Machado? That could be a different story. San Diego professes to have endless money — and they just might — but there’s a reason they offered $280 million to future Hall of Famer Xander Bogaerts has he rounds the corner and turns 30. Bogey might not be a shortstop forever, and Machado has a well-placed opt-out entering his age-31 season that he’ll likely exercise as soon as the 2023 campaign ends.
The Padres have said all the right things about retaining him, but based on Aaron Judge’s contract, Machado can turn five guaranteed years and $150 million into seven or eight years and $200+ million in the current climate rather easily.
Maybe the Yankees will get a second chance to woo a player they should’ve pushed harder for back in 2018-19. Either way, they won’t be getting even a chance with Tatis Jr.