Could the New York Yankees silence their critics by pulling off a huge trade this MLB offseason?
The New York Yankees haven't really done much of anything this offseason. They haven't added any pitchers, they haven't improved their offense and Cody Bellinger is still out there.
Meanwhile, rivals like the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have both been wheeling and dealing, and even the Baltimore Orioles have gotten better.
Then you have the Yankees, sitting idly and biding their time as their grip on a playoff spot gets weaker and weaker by the day.
Of course, there is still plenty of time remaining this winter, so perhaps New York will surprise its fans by swinging an out-of-nowhere deal.
That is exactly what Alexander Wilson of Empire Sports Media is anticipating, as Wilson is predicting the Yankees to complete a trade for Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta.
As for how New York could pry Peralta away from the Brewers? Wilson expects that the Yanks will have to pay a heavy cost, but he feels it would be worth it.
"I anticipate the package will center around a young MLB-ready arm like Will Warren or potentially even Luis Gil, along with a bundle of prospects (potentially including Spencer Jones/or even Jasson Dominguez) to replenish Milwaukee’s system," Wilson wrote.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta. Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images.Warren tossed his first full big-league season in 2025, logging a 4.44 ERA, 4.07 FIP and 1.374 WHIP while averaging 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Meanwhile, Gil made just 11 regular-season starts thanks to a lat injury that kept him sidelined for the first few months of the year. His strikeout numbers plummeted, and he also saw a dip in velocity. His value has certainly declined since 2024, but he could still represent a nice throw-in.
Wilson is projecting the Yankees to re-sign Bellinger, which would make at least one of Jones or Dominguez expendable. The former has yet to hit the majors while Dominguez slashed .257/.331/.388 over 429 plate appearances while playing poor left field defense in 2025.
"It is a steep price to pay, but for a Yankees team that is firmly in 'win-now' mode, hoarding prospects while the championship window is open is malpractice," Wilson wrote. "These two moves — locking in Bellinger and trading for Peralta — transform a quiet winter into a terrifying spring for the rest of the AL East."
Peralta pitched to the tune of a 2.70 ERA while racking up 204 strikeouts over 176.2 innings of work this past season and owns a lifetime 3.59 ERA since entering the bigs back in 2018.
The 29-year-old is slated to hit free agency after 2026, which makes any trade for the right-hander risky, but with New York's core not getting any younger, now is the time to strike.