Did the Yankees really consider sending García to Arizona for a reliever like Juan Morillo? The Nationals listed first baseman Luis García Jr. on the market, and the Diamondbacks emerged as the second‑most interested party, according to New York Post reporter Joel Sherman.
Arizona’s involvement makes sense. Struggling at first base and DH, the Snakes missed the playoffs despite a Wild Card push, while the Yankees, shorthanded by injuries to Judge and Stanton, added outfielder Lars Nootbaar and sent Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Jack Cebert and Ben Grable to Washington.
Arizona’s production at first and DH stayed weak, leaving those spots wide open for 2027. Players such as Pavin Smith, Adrian Del Castillo, Tyler Locklear and Tim Tawa remain on the roster, yet none appear to be definitive solutions.
Smith posted a .183/.262/.294 line in 2026 and earned $2.25 million; his arbitration raise could be modest, and the club might non‑tender him. Del Castillo slashed .193/.246/.309, while Locklear’s brief 15‑game sample produced a .190/.275/.310 career mark. Tawa proved serviceable as a utility option.
Arizona could chase free agents like Jake Bauers, Ty France or Joc Pederson, but owner Ken Kendrick has warned payroll will shrink next season. In my view, Arizona should prioritize pitching over a first‑base gamble.
The Yankees saw a dip in firepower when Judge went down, and García’s 30 homers and .277/.309/.521 slash line—worth a projected $11 million in his final club‑controlled year—make him a tempting hold for New York.
There’s a case for moving on, given a crowded first‑base/DH mix. Ben Rice will likely fill a spot, Stanton could see more time if healthy, and Judge, turning 35 in April, might serve as a part‑time DH to ease his workload under a contract running through 2031.
Shifting García off first base offers a modest upgrade, but his defensive struggles at second and first raise concerns. While he could fill the vacancy left by Jazz Chisholm Jr., his offensive upside may wane in a new role.
Considering third base is risky. Ryan McMahon is under contract for another year, yet García lacks experience at the hot corner and his arm strength has consistently ranked low, even after logging over 500 shortstop innings in 2022.
The trade market could be the safest outlet for García. A bullpen move aligns with Sherman’s speculation, especially as David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Fulmer, John Schreiber and Tim Hill approach free agency.
Sherman floated Juan Morillo as a target. Morillo logged 64 1/3 innings with a 2.24 ERA, a 28% strikeout rate, an 8.7% walk rate and a 50.9% ground‑ball rate, retaining five years of club control and remaining arbitration‑ineligible.
Swapping Morillo for García would help New York but could hurt Arizona, whose 2026 bullpen was average and now loses several relievers to free agency. Adding García would only deepen a relief shortage unless the Snakes acquire other arms.
Can the Diamondbacks turn this speculation into a roster boost for 2027?