The New York Yankees missed out on re-signing Juan Soto this offseason, but this might turn out to be a fortunate outcome. Since then, the Yankees have added pitchers Devin Williams and Max Fried, and they are now likely focusing on strengthening their lineup to fill the gap left by Soto in right field.
Cody Bellinger, the Chicago Cubs outfielder, appears to be their top target, though reports suggest the two sides have hit a roadblock in negotiations. As an alternative, the Yankees could pursue another outfielder from Chicago in a major trade. Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox is reportedly available, and the Yankees could strike a big deal to bring him to New York. A potential trade could look like this:
New York Yankees receive: OF Luis Robert Jr.
Chicago White Sox receive: INF George Lombard Jr. (No. 3 prospect), LHP Brock Selvidge (No. 7 prospect), OF Francisco Vilorio (No. 15 prospect)
This deal would give the Yankees a powerful replacement for Soto. Robert would take over center field, moving Aaron Judge back to his natural position in right. While Robert would be a costly addition, he is under team control through 2027 and could add a significant bat to manager Aaron Boone’s lineup. Despite a down year in 2024, his impressive 2023 stats, including 38 home runs, 36 doubles, and an .857 OPS, make him a worthy risk.
The Yankees would part with top prospect George Lombard Jr., who they selected in the first round of the 2023 draft and who has shown considerable potential. Brock Selvidge, while not a perfect fit for the White Sox’s focus on young bats, is a talented left-handed pitcher the team would likely value. Francisco Vilorio, an 18-year-old outfielder with elite tools in the Yankees’ system, would also be included in the trade. The White Sox are expected to continue shopping Robert, but this package could be enough to seal the deal, especially if the Bellinger trade falls through.
