CHICAGO -- The Yankees acquired infielder Luis García Jr. from the Nationals on Sunday in exchange for four pitchers, adding a much-needed left-handed bat as they continue to search for more offense.
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• 2026 Trade Deadline: Monday, 6 p.m. ET
• Skubal heads to Dodgers in Deadline blockbuster
• Yanks land infielder García from Nationals for 4 pitchers
• Rays add Peralta in deal with Mets
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Washington received right-handers Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Jack Cebert -- the Yankees’ No. 14 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline -- and Ben Grable, the organization’s No. 25 prospect. Cebert is now rated the Nationals’ No. 14 prospect, Grable their No. 26 and Cruz their No. 30.
TRADE DETAILS
New York gets: INF Luis García Jr.
Washington gets: RHPs Jake Bird, Jack Cebert (Nationals No. 14 prospect), Ben Grable (No. 26) and Yovanny Cruz (No. 30)
García’s trade value had skyrocketed during the best season of his seven-year career. The 26-year-old New York native is slashing .283/.313/.560 with an .873 OPS, while his 23 home runs and 76 RBIs are both career highs.
He entered Sunday leading the National League in slugging percentage. He has been particularly hot lately, batting .367 with four doubles, one triple, two homers and six RBIs across his past seven games.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered a concise scouting report after Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Cubs.
“He rakes,” Boone said.
The Yankees view García primarily as a first-base or designated-hitter option against right-handed pitching. The plan is for him to platoon with Paul Goldschmidt at first base while Ben Rice continues to receive time at catcher and DH, according to the Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
That alignment should allow New York to add a productive left-handed presence without completely displacing either Goldschmidt or Rice.
García’s profile also appears well suited for Yankee Stadium. He is pulling balls in the air at a career-high 18.5% rate, a potentially valuable trait given the short porch in right field.
García’s improvement against left-handed pitching has also helped him earn more consistent playing time. García is batting .247 against left-handed starters this season after posting a .195 mark in those matchups last year.
“All the credit, honestly, goes to him for being willing to try something new and spend the amount of time that he spends in the cage, in the weight room to address these things,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said Saturday.
García is under club control through the end of the 2027 season, giving the Yankees more than a short-term rental as they attempt to bolster an offense that has struggled for much of the past month.
José Caballero learned of the trade shortly after Sunday’s game.
“I know that he’s a great hitter,” Caballero said. “I just saw the news, so I’m excited to see him here and what he can contribute for the team.”
Gerrit Cole also welcomed the addition, even if his firsthand experience against García was limited.
“He seems to be a really good hitter when we face them,” Cole said. “Obviously, if we like him, we think he’s a good player. So I’m on board with that.”
The move addresses the Yankees’ clearest need ahead of Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. New York scored exactly two runs in each game of its weekend series against the Cubs, winning two of three largely because of its pitching staff.
García now gives the Yankees another hitter capable of changing that formula.