What could a painful Yankees-Kyle Tucker trade package potentially look like?

The New York Yankees, fresh off trading for a one-year rental to fill an outfield need, might be ready to get hurt again.

Juan Soto, who was always destined to chase the almighty dollar, was offered many, many almighty dollars from Hal Steinbrenner last weekend. Unfortunately, the Mets added escalators to the mix, the Yankees apparently have an infuriating security guard, and here we are. They're partying in Queens, while the Yanks have an impossible-to-fill lefty power gap on their hands.

Could ... we can't believe we're saying this .. the Astros help us out here? Houston GM Dana Brown announced on Monday night that, while scrounging for Alex Bregman cash, they could be open for business regarding Framber Valdez and Kyle Tucker, both of whom will be free agents following the 2025 season. Tucker missed a good portion of 2024 with a lingering bone bruise, but hit 23 bombs with a 181 OPS+ and accrued 4.7 bWAR in just 277 at-bats. If the Yankees can't match up for a trade, he should still be Plan A next offseason.

Of course, nobody believes Tucker is trying to reset the market the way Soto did this offseason. Hopefully, he'd be open to an extension at the right price if the Yankees were to acquire him. That'd be the case with any team, though, hastening the need for New York to find a match here, even if they have very little interest in going all out for another one-year fit. Is there any way they can both pay the proper price and not deplete their farm system entirely?

Yankees-Kyle Tucker trade package: Yes, Jasson Dominguez has to be available

Now's the time to trade Spencer Jones, if they can, but if New York does dangle their former top prospect, they'll probably have to pair him with 2024 Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. Yes, that's how far his value has sunk. You're not getting away with Jhonny Brito and Randy Vásquez.

While it sounds unnecessarily painful at first blush, Jasson Dominguez is certainly the more enticing option. His 2023 cameo made him look like an essential part of the Yankees' fabric, but he lost almost the entire 2024 season to Tommy John surgery and an oblique issue, and hit .179 with suspect defense when he was active. If Tucker's in play, the Astros are willing to return Cashman's calls, and the lefty swinger is excited about an extension, the uncertainty surrounding Dominguez has to indicate availability. Add in Houston's easier-to-defend left field, and their reliance on Jake Meyers/Chas McCormick in center, and you can see it.

Dominguez, Chase Hampton, and Henry Lalane. Call it in.