NEW YORK — Most of the Yankees’ deadline talk has centered on plugging holes for this season. One idea looks further down the road, and it is the boldest of the bunch.
The Yankees are chasing a catcher and bullpen help before Aug. 3. Those are the urgent needs, the ones tied to the pennant race in front of them.
But there is a second track running underneath the win-now shopping. It concerns the future of a lineup that will not look the same in a year or two.
Giancarlo Stanton has struggled to stay on the field. Trent Grisham could walk in free agency. The Yankees may need a young, controllable bat to build around, not just rent.
That thinking points toward one name in Pittsburgh.
A rumor puts Pirates slugger on the Yankees’ radar
The player is Oneil Cruz, the Pirates’ toolsy left-handed slugger. According to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, Cruz’s name has surfaced as a player Pittsburgh could consider moving, not because the Pirates are selling, but because they need pitching.
Nightengale laid out the logic on the Foul Territory podcast, framing Cruz as a chip the Pirates might cash in for arms they badly need.
“The one name that has come up is Oneil Cruz,” Nightengale said. “He frees up some money. They do have some outfield depth. Can they trade Oneil Cruz to get some bullpen help, because they need bullpen help as much as any contender out there?”
New York has been down this road before, checking in on Cruz last summer, when Pittsburgh had no interest in moving him. Reporting suggests the door may be slightly less closed this time, though it is far from open.
Any pursuit would be a long-term play as much as a present one. Cruz would not just help the 2026 Yankees. He would give them a controllable bat for years.
Why Cruz appeals, and why the fit is complicated
The appeal starts with the profile. Cruz was in the middle of a strong rebound before he got hurt, hitting .264 with a .350 on-base percentage, a .472 slugging mark, 14 home runs and 21 steals in 64 games. His Statcast data is among the loudest in the sport, with top-percentile exit velocity, hard-hit rate and bat speed.
Cruz brings exceptional left-handed power, game-changing speed, and a hitter capable of exploiting Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch. The yankees will get a potential middle-of-the-order weapon through 2028.
The contract sweetens it. Cruz earns just $3.3 million this year and is under club control through 2028, which is the exact window a team planning for life after Stanton would want. His left-handed power would also feast on Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch.
Cruz would give the Yankees another hitter with physical traits similar to Giancarlo Stanton. His underlying numbers highlight the force behind his swing. Cruz ranks in the 100th percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate, the 99th percentile in bat speed and the 96th percentile in barrel rate. Few hitters generate that level of contact authority, and Stanton remains one of the rare players capable of matching it.
There are real complications. Cruz has a long injury history and has never put together a truly elite full season. He is currently on the 60-day injured list with fractures in his left hand and is not eligible to return until Aug. 8, five days after the deadline. Any deal would hinge on the Yankees trusting the medicals on that hand.
The fit is imperfect in another way. Recent reporting indicates the Yankees have prioritized a right-handed hitter to balance their lineup, and Cruz is another lefty bat. Acquiring him would address the future more than the specific need they have flagged for now.
The price the Pirates’ may want
The cost is where it gets difficult. Pittsburgh would want controllable, near-ready talent in return, and New York has the kind of young players that appeal. Any serious framework would likely start with outfield prospect Spencer Jones and a controllable arm, with the Pirates seeking pitching to headline the deal.
The Yankees may need to surrender outfielder Spencer Jones, right-hander Elmer Rodríguez and reliever prospect Yovanny Cruz to land Oneil Cruz. Pittsburgh could seriously consider the package because all three players offer multiple years of team control.
Jones would give the Pirates a possible long-term replacement in the outfield. The former first-round pick combines power and speed, posting a .274/.362/.571 slash line with 35 home runs and 29 steals in the minors in 2025. His strikeout rate remains a concern after 34 punchouts in his first 82 major-league plate appearances.
Rodríguez could become the centerpiece. The 22-year-old recorded a 2.58 ERA and 176 strikeouts across three levels in 2025 and still projects as a mid-rotation starter despite early MLB struggles.
Yovanny Cruz would add another high-upside arm. He reached 100.9 mph in his debut and struck out three over two perfect innings, though command remains an issue for Pittsburgh’s bullpen.
The Pirates are also interested in Yankees’ Camilo Doval, but wants a sharing of the payout.
Why the Pirates would trade Cruz
The Pirates would receive a potential everyday outfielder, a near-ready starter and a hard-throwing reliever, adding immediate depth and much-needed young offensive talent.
The proposed return could generate serious negotiations, though Pittsburgh’s playoff position complicates a deal. The Pirates have shown little urgency to trade their best position player, but reports that they may listen to offers have kept Cruz’s availability uncertain.
Pittsburgh would need a compelling reason to move him. Adding several controllable players at once could provide it. Spencer Jones offers middle-of-the-order upside, while Elmer Rodríguez and Yovanny Cruz would bring two high-ceiling arms.
Questions also surround Cruz’s long-term relationship with the organization. Some reportedly believe he remains unhappy about moving from shortstop to center field. Concerns about his consistency and effort have also persisted despite discussions with coaches and front-office officials.
Cruz remains highly valuable because he combines elite athleticism, an affordable salary and team control through 2028. The Yankees, Phillies, Guardians and Brewers have been linked to him, though reports differ on their interest.
New York may offer the clearest match. Pittsburgh wants controllable young hitters, and a Jones-led package could strengthen several roster areas while sending the Yankees the deal’s most dynamic player.
A decision that stretches beyond this deadline
The connection would also carry a fitting Yankees element. Cruz was named after former Yankees star Paul O’Neill, and his ability to punish baseballs could make him an especially compelling target for a franchise built around power. His profile, affordability and potential role in the lineup make the pairing easy to envision.
The upside is what keeps the idea alive. A healthy Cruz gives the Yankees exceptional power, game-changing speed and center-field flexibility, the kind of middle-of-the-order weapon that could anchor the lineup through 2028.
The question is whether Brian Cashman would pay a steep prospect price for a player Pittsburgh may not even make available. The medicals, the Pirates’ stance and the Yankees’ stated preference for a right-handed bat all cut against a quick deal.
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