Breaking: Yankees Urged to Trade for Star Who Vowed Never to Join Them ‘Even Dead’

The Yankees are rapidly falling behind in the American League playoff race, and with the MLB trade deadline approaching, they might need to pursue deals that previously seemed improbable. The Blue Jays, naturally, would be hesitant to trade a star slugger like Vladimir Guerrero to their division rivals, especially given Guerrero’s past disdain for the Yankees.

The Yankees’ recent performance has been dismal, having lost four of their last five games. Their impressive 50-22 start now feels like a distant memory as they have lost 22 of their last 32 games, winning only 10.

ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle suggests that the Blue Jays should consider trading Guerrero to New York in exchange for a package of top prospects, including No. 2 prospect Spencer Jones. In his article, “2024 MLB Trade Deadline: The Deals We’d Like to See,” Doolittle acknowledges Guerrero’s past comments about never wanting to join the Yankees but argues that the trade could be beneficial for both teams.

Doolittle envisions a Yankees lineup featuring Guerrero, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge, which would be a formidable offensive force. Guerrero’s past comments—he had stated two years ago in a Spanish-language interview that he would never sign with the Yankees, “not even dead”—might complicate matters, but Doolittle notes that Guerrero has softened his stance recently.

He believes the narrative aspect of this potential trade adds an intriguing layer to the story, even if it’s uncertain whether the Yankees can meet the Blue Jays’ demands.

Guerrero, a four-time All-Star, would be a significant addition for the Yankees. This season, he is hitting .296 with a .365 on-base percentage, a .487 slugging percentage, 18 home runs, and 62 RBI. He is on a $20 million one-year contract.

While acquiring Guerrero might be a long shot, the Yankees certainly need a boost to avoid repeating the collapses that have marred their previous seasons. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge have been productive, but the Yankees’ other hitters have underperformed. Their cleanup hitters have just 10 home runs (24th in MLB), a .204 batting average (last in MLB), and a .593 OPS (also last).

With injured DH Giancarlo Stanton expected to return and first baseman Anthony Rizzo struggling throughout the season, adding Guerrero could provide both a powerful bat and positional flexibility. Guerrero can play both first base and third base, making him a valuable asset for the Yankees.