The Yankees were at the top with a 7-game lead in the AL East on May 28 with 35-20. But then the team started stumbling through June and July, going from 27 games over .500 in late June to a tied division race with the Jays by August. And in the end, Aaron Judge’s team lost the AL East title with a 94-68 tie with the Jays.

So, now, to fix the offensive approach, the Yankees are asked to consider a vital move. Anthony McCarron reported that the Yankees need to trade top prospect Spencer Jones and try to acquire Steven Kwan from the Guardians. But trade a 24-year-old prospect who was predicted to fill the place left by Aaron Judge.

When Aaron Judge got his right flexor strain in the elbow in late July, Zachary Rotman from Fansided predicted that the team would call up Spencer Jones to fill the gap in right field. But the team didn’t bring Jones up despite a .419/.477/.946 in Triple-A. From mid-June to the end of July, Jones’ performance was elite.

He hit 18 home runs in just 32 games with a slash line of .388/.457/.860. Then, August came, and the story changed when he delivered a slash line of .180/.250/.306. So, where does Steven Kwan fit here?

McCarron noted, “He’d be an ideal leadoff hitter who also happens to be the best defensive left fielder in baseball. And Yankee Stadium’s spacious left field needs proper tending. Kwan had an 8.7 percent strikeout rate this past season. The MLB average is 22.5 percent; Yanks had the sixth-highest rate in MLB (23.5 percent).”

Kwan is entering the final year of arbitration this winter. If the Yanks could trade for him, Kwan might be there for several years and be the leadoff hitter to get on base with Judge. 

Jones is the Yankees’ 4th-ranked prospect, expected to make his big league debut next season. And given NYY’s win-now strategy, they can surely decide to deal their top prospect for an impact hitter. Because Kwan hit .272 with 11 home runs and 56 RBIs last season with the Guardians.

For a team that had a mere .249 BA in their last 10 games, Steven Kwan can prove to be impactful.

But his love for Cleveland was visible back in August 2025.

“It was super special, just the intros today, the cheering out in left field, down the line…..It was super special. I hear all of it. Super grateful. I don’t know if I deserve all of it, but super grateful for all the love in this city, and I’m hoping we can stay here for a long time.” Kwan’s statement simply mirrored his desire to stay in Cleveland for a long time.

Now, only time will tell whether the Yankees can make a trade with the Guardinas.

Just when the Bleacher Creatures thought the drama could not run any deeper, a shocking twist from one of their biggest players set the stage for even bigger headlines in New York.

Cody Bellinger’s exit adds another twist to the Yankees’ turbulent offseason

Cody Bellinger’s decision to opt out of his $25 million player option for 2026 did not come as a complete surprise, but it surely adds more drama to the Yankees’ winter plans. After a strong season in 2025, where he hit .272 with 29 homers, 98 RBIs, and 5 triples, Bellinger proved his worth as one of the most consistent contributors in New York. His versatility in the outfield and at first base made him invaluable, and losing that kind of talent would not be easy for the Yankees to replace. 

ESPN’s David Schoenfield has declared that “Cody Bellinger is the best fit for the Mets this offseason, highlighting the left-handed slugger’s unique skill set and the team’s pressing needs.”

He underlined how Bellinger’s left-handed power and high WAR make him a perfect contender for the Mets’ requirements, particularly with their outfield depth in question and unpredictability about the future of Pete Alonso. 

Specifically for Mets, Cody Bellinger sounds like a missing piece.

He offers defensive flexibility, power from the left side, and postseason experience, a total package that a franchise looking to rebound from a disappointing season could use. Adding him would not only solidify their roster, but it could also completely change the balance of baseball power in New York.

Cody Bellinger’s decision had transformed New York’s offseason into a perfect battleground. In the Yankees’ uncertainty, the Mets see an opportunity. A single decision, and suddenly, the whole city waits to see which side of town will own 2026.