Matt Johnson
The New York Yankees have been linked in MLB trade rumors this summer to hitters like Eugenio Suarez, Ryan McMahon and Ke’Bryan Hayes, along with several front-line starting pitchers. With the MLB trade deadline nearing, a new target has emerged.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Yankees have expressed interest to the Pittsburgh Pirates in acquiring outfielder Oneil Cruz.
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- O’Neil Cruz stats (ESPN): .219/.319/.419, .739 OPS, 16 home runs, 14 doubles, 40 RBI, 33 steals, 51 runs scored in 329 at-bats
Cruz, age 26, would add another left-handed bat to the Yankees’ lineup. The 6-foot-7 center fielder got off to a hot start this season, prompting Pittsburgh to tell inquiring clubs that it had no interest in moving him.
In his first 51 games this season, Cruz hit 12 home runs with an .828 OPS, slashing .230/.347/.481 with 34 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Since then, his production has plummeted. Entering MLB games today, Cruz has a .626 OPS with a .205/.283/.342 triple-slash line, hitting just 4 home runs with 17 runs scored in his last 40 games.
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- ONeil Cruz contract (Spotrac): $785,000 salary (2025), arbitration-eligible (2026-28), MLB free agent in 2028-29 offseason
Cruz has never been a particularly good hitter, recording a .241 batting average over the last four seasons (1,233 at-bats). He’s also had issues consistently reaching base, compiling a .322 OBP over the last two seasons.
However, the speed and power he brings are enticing. Baseball Savant ranks him in the 95th percentile for Base Running Value, the 100th percentile for Bat Speed, Average Exit Velocity (96.3 mph), and Arm Strength, and in the 99th percentile for Barrel rate (21.8 percent) and Hard-Hit rate (57.3 percent).
The downside is his lack of contact, demonstrated by a 3rd percentile Whiff Rate (33.8 percent) and a 2nd percentile Strikeout Rate (31.9 percent). New York would essentially be gambling on his enticing tools, all of which come at an extremely high asking price.
Furthermore, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said a deal is unlikely, as Pittsburgh would need to be “absolutely bowled over by an offer” to move him. Jeff Passan of ESPN wrote that Cruz will stay in Pittsburgh.
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