The New York Yankees acquired 26-year-old first baseman/designated hitter Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals, sources including Joel Sherman reported. The Yankees sent four pitchers to Washington: RHP Ben Grable, RHP Yovanny Cruz, RHP Jack Cebert, and RHP Jake Bird, according to Mark Feinsand. García is hitting .283/.313/.560 with 23 home runs and a National League-leading .560 slugging percentage, and he remains under club control through the 2027 season. He has a large righty/lefty split, producing a .295 average and .918 OPS against right-handers versus a .218 average and .627 OPS against left-handers. Defensive numbers moved him from minus-17 DRS at second base last year to roughly minus-1 DRS at first base this season. Nationals teammates noted García was a clubhouse leader; shortstop CJ Abrams said García was one of the first teammates he really talked to and that the departure is tough. The trade sends four pitching pieces to Washington while giving the Yankees a left-handed power bat who can DH or play first base.
