When Gleyber Torres departed the New York Yankees to sign a one-year, $15 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees were left scrambling to fill the hole in their middle infield.
As 2025 approaches, they have yet to make the necessary roster adjustment. However, a new trade proposal shared on the Fireside Yankees podcast’s X (formerly Twitter) suggests a potential solution that would not only address the infield gap but also unload a burdensome contract.
That contract belongs to Marcus Stroman, who struggled in the second half of 2024 and didn’t even make an appearance in the Yankees’ postseason run. Unsurprisingly, Stroman is reportedly on the trade block this offseason.
According to an MLB.com report, the Yankees previously tried to trade Stroman to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a package for third baseman Nolan Arenado, but the Cardinals weren’t interested.
The new trade proposal suggests sending Stroman’s remaining $37 million contract, which has one more year at $18.5 million, to the Washington Nationals. In exchange, the Yankees would also send two of their top-10 prospects: pitcher Chase Hampton (No. 6) and middle infielder Rodrick Arias (No. 4).
In return, the Yankees would acquire 24-year-old second baseman Luis Garcia Jr., a New York City native, who could help fill the void left by Torres. Garcia, who moved to the Dominican Republic at age three, is the son of former MLB player Luis Garcia, who appeared in eight games for the Detroit Tigers in 1999.
Luis Garcia Jr
Signed by the Nationals in 2016, Garcia will earn $5.4 million in 2025, with two more years of arbitration eligibility. While Garcia’s 2024 offensive production wasn’t stellar, it marked his breakout season with 18 home runs and a .762 OPS.
His defense is solid, ranking in the 88th percentile for range factor, although his arm strength is below average (11th percentile).
For the Yankees, this trade appears more focused on unloading Stroman’s contract than securing a long-term solution for Torres’ replacement.
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