Yankees Rumors: Kyle Tucker buzz, Roki Sasaki pitch, Alex Bregman

Buckle up, because as the Winter Meetings end, it appears the Yankees (and plenty of other executive clusters) are racing towards the finish line.

A Kyle Tucker trade is tops on the rundown, and what seemed like a pipe dream has calcified into a stunning reality on Wednesday. It may not happen before the clock strikes midnight in Dallas, but it certainly seems like the Astros are prepared to move on, perhaps spooked by the value of Juan Soto's contract in free agency.

The Cubs have reportedly offered Seiya Suzuki and Isaac Paredes, alongside prospects, while the Yankees are well aware of how much the Astros like Luis Gil, and are attempting to build a package. For now, conventional wisdom has Chicago in the lead, though that could change (and could also be an attempt to get the Yankees to go overboard).

At this moment, the Yankees and Cubs are simultaneously working things out for Cody Bellinger while battling one another for Tucker. The Cubs don't want to eat money; the Yankees would really like them to do so. Something tells us that these moves are delicately balanced upon one another.

Yankees chasing Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger trades; Alex Bregman growing into real possibility

Tucker may not be the only famed Astro in their sights. Despite Jack Curry putting the kibosh on the stadium/dollar fit multiple times, word out of the meetings is that the Yankees' interest in Alex Bregman is suddenly very real.

On the one hand ... lifelong Derek Jeter fan. On the other ... aging pull hitter going from the Crawford Boxes to Death Valley. Lots to weigh here.

Purportedly, this could come down to the Astros, Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers, and might be finished soon. If the Yankees pivoted and are suddenly interested in filling a vacancy at third, perhaps they insert Jazz Chisholm into their Tucker offer to top the Cubs' inclusion of Paredes?! Countering is wild.

Yankees preparing Roki Sasaki pitch

In the "If You Don't Swing Big, Then Why Swing at All?" Department, the Yankees also made it clear on Wednesday that they plan to formulate a pitch for Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki. Sasaki, who'd immediately become one of baseball's top prospects, can only be signed using international bonus pool money, leveling the playing field significantly.

While the Yankees can't flex their financial muscles, they can sell him on their ability to make great pitchers even better, which is the angle they intend to hit. As Brian Cashman noted on Wednesday, "His intent is to be one of the game's greatest pitchers... We certainly would love to participate in allowing that to happen."

Sasaki's agent Joel Wolfe noted on Tuesday that his client has had trouble with large media contingents in the past, making the Yankees an imperfect fit. To see them in the running at all, though, after so many early rumors ignored their candidacy entirely, is encouraging.