This projected Yankees-Padres Luis Gil trade could get New York the most intriguing return

Word on the street is that the New York Yankees will look to trade Luis Gil this offseason. The much-maligned right-hander is out of options, meaning it's this or the non-tender line, unless the Yankees somehow believe he can contribute in some way in 2027.

It's been a stunning fall from grace for the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year and a player who was once highly sought-after by the Houston Astros during Kyle Tucker trade negotiations. It's wild to think that New York refusing to give him up for Tucker turned out to be a good thing.

Now, though, dealing Gil comes down to convincing someone else that he can be saved. His value has plummeted, and in some ways, the best the Yankees can expect is a lottery-ticket-type prospect.

But there could be another pathway. New York could look to find a trade partner with an equally distressed asset who no longer fits their roster but could fill a role in the Bronx. There are a few possibilities, but the one that stands out as the best option is Luis Campusano of the San Diego Padres.

The Yankees and Padres have done business before, and a Luis Gil-Luis Campusano trade makes sense for both sides

The Padres are in a bad way when it comes to their starting rotation. Michael King is likely to opt out of his contract and seek a big-money long-term deal. They have a tough decision to make with Nick Pivetta. Joe Musgrove hasn't pitched three innings over the last two and a half years, and didn't pitch at all in either the 2025 or 2026 seasons due to complications while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

On the catcher front, however, San Diego has some pretty decent depth. While nothing is guaranteed, 20-year-old phenom Ethan Salas came up and impressed in September and made the Padres postseason roster. Padres general manager AJ Preller won't confirm that he'll be the unquestioned starter, but sooner rather than later, he will take control of that role.

San Diego has a quality backup in Freddy Fermin, who admittedly is more defense than offense, but is a capable mentor for the youngster. Then there's the polarizing Campusano, whose career has been marred by injuries and inconsistencies, much like Gil.

The 28-year-old backstop has never played more than 91 games in a single season. That high-water mark came in 2024, when he hit just .227/.281/.361. Then, in 2025, he went hitless over 10 games and spent the rest of the season down in Triple-A El Paso.

The promise came this year. Campusano played in just 71 games and missed time with a fractured toe, but he did hit .265/.363/.433 with eight homers. He's always hit well in the minors, and there's a chance that this is more reflective of his true talent than the .240/.294/.372 career line that he entered 2026 with.

The Padres might not be convinced that his breakout was for real, though, as he struggled down the stretch, hitting just .215/.292/.369 in September. Even more, they could simply decide that betting on Gil fills a bigger need for their club than holding onto the option-less Campusano does.

From the Yankees' point of view, this deal makes sense as well. It's been reported that New York will look for a right-handed hitting complement to Austin Wells, rather than an outright replacement. In the report from Joel Sherman, Campusano was listed as a potential target.

These two teams have done business before, and Preller likes Yankees arms. In addition to King, they've acquired Randy Vasquez, who came up in the Yankees system, and indirectly brought in J.P. Sears by way of the Athletics. Gil could strike his fancy as a fifth starter candidate who could also pitch out of the pen.

It's hard to see how the Yankees do better than this. Campusano is an intriguing player, and while he's never hit the heights that Gil did, he could be on the upswing rather than declining like Gil. On top of that, he fits a need, whereas Gil is certainly one of the odd men out in the 2027 roster picture.

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