What on earth is going on with Yankees, Fernando Tatis Jr. and flight to New York?

The New York Yankees are not trading for Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., who remains one of San Diego’s building blocks as they head towards World Series contention.

The New York Yankees are not trading for Fernando Tatis Jr. Forget his 2022 campaign, marred by a motorcycle accident and PED suspension. He’s still essential to their operation, and he’s under contract until 2035.

The New York Yankees are not trading for Fernando Tatis Jr. They’re big believers in both Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe at shortstop. Those two prospects are the reason they didn’t take on a short-term contract for Carlos Correa last offseason. Those two prospects are the reason they ignored mega-commitments for the likes of Corey Seager, Trea Turner and Xander Bogaerts. Why would they turn a blind eye to the market before absorbing a long-term Tatis Jr. deal they didn’t even agree to?

The New York Yankees are not trading for Fernando Tatis Jr., who is flying to New York City from the Dominican airport on Tuesday morning. They’re not. They won’t be doing it. Doesn’t make sense for either side.

OK. So … why did Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch chime in on the comments here to compare Tatis Jr.’s status as an asset to Aroldis Chapman’s, directly before Brian Cashman traded for the closer?

Yankees trade for Fernando Tatis Jr. would be “buy low” like Aroldis Chapman?!

Well, the pot has officially been stirred. Yankees fans, who are desperate for anything, were just given about ~20% of something when Hoch’s cryptic message dropped.

In recent weeks, we’ve gotten emphatic denials regarding Tatis Jr.’s availability from FanSided’s MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as every tea leaf in San Diego’s Big Book of Tea Leaves. They’re going for it. With Manny Machado opting out next offseason, their timeline isn’t endless. Logic dictates they wouldn’t drop a 45-homer shortstop, and they certainly wouldn’t drop him at their lowest point.

Apologies to former NHL goalie Rick DiPietro, but it seems far more likely that Tatis Jr. is heading to New York to get a check-up on his surgically-repaired wrist rather than try on the pinstripes.

But … BUT … Aaron Judge’s re-introductory press conference is reportedly scheduled for Wednesday in the Bronx. Tatis Jr. is en route to the city to enjoy “The Music Man” on Broadway for the holiday season, and his timeline just so happens to coincide with that big day.

And Hoch must have known what he was doing comparing Chapman’s situation to Tatis Jr.’s so directly without any sort of rebuttal attached to the tweet.

The New York Yankees are not trading for Fernando Tatis Jr. But, for the first time ever, a few factors conspired on Tuesday to make it appear like they could.

4 blockbuster trade targets that could be Yankees next ‘big’ move

Rumors have suggested the New York Yankees have multiple big moves up their sleeve. One figures to be Carlos Rodon. What's the other?