Fansided

Fernando Tatis Jr. rumors: Yankees links just won’t go away

By Mark Powell

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres bats against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the tenth inning at Oracle Park on October 02, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres bats against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the tenth inning at Oracle Park on October 02, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The New York Yankees are unlikely to trade for Fernando Tatis Jr., at least right now. Why then does the public speculation continue?

Yankees fans are always ones to reach for the shiny toy, but in this case, Fernando Tatis Jr. is marred with controversy. In fact, he’s quite dirty, given the motorcycle accident and PED suspension which has impacted him over the past calendar year.

Tatis Jr. is not eligible to return to his MLB team until April 20. That team is more than likely going to be the San Diego Padres, barring they don’t pull off a shocking turn of events.

San Diego didn’t sign Xander Bogaerts just to punt on next season by trading away Tatis Jr. That hasn’t stopped speculation from New York radio host Rick DiPietro, however. DiPietro also happens to be the former goalie of the NHL’s New York Islanders.

Yankees-Fernando Tatis Jr. rumors won’t die

Alas, such speculation has been refuted by FanSided’s Robert Murray already.

Yet, that’s not how the rumor mill works. Yankees rumors don’t become fiction overnight.

Tatis Jr. was seen boarding a flight destined for New York City on Tuesday. Bryan Hoch, a Yankees insider, commented on the incident simply by pointing out that Tatis Jr. would be a good buy-low candidate, were he made available.

Manny Machado is almost guaranteed to opt out of his Padres contract next offseason, which means this is San Diego’s best chance to truly go for it. A.J. Preller knows this, which explains the amount of money and desperation which went into his offseason plan. Preller is always busy, but this winter was excessive, even for him.

Trading Tatis Jr. would not fit into that narrative. As for the Yankees, they have plenty of faith in Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza, two of their two prospects. It’s why they didn’t sign Carlos Correa last offseason, and also why they didn’t chase one of the star shortstops this winter.

A circumstantial flight to New York City doesn’t change any of that.

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