Diamondbacks were runners-up for Luis García Jr. at the trade deadline, per report

The Diamondbacks were the runners-up for Nationals first baseman Luis García Jr. at the trade deadline, per Joel Sherman of The New York Post, as reported by Darragh McDonald at MLB Trade Rumors. Washington ultimately dealt García to the Yankees, and Arizona instead added outfielder Lars Nootbaar — leaving the first base and designated hitter spots unresolved heading into the 2027 offseason.

What happened

Per Sherman's reporting, the Nationals were actively shopping García at the deadline, and the Diamondbacks emerged as the second-closest suitor before New York closed the deal. The Yankees sent Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Jack Cebert, and Ben Grable to Washington to complete the trade, per the report. Arizona, meanwhile, came away with Nootbaar but did not address the production gaps at first base or DH that had been a drag on the club through the summer.

Sherman also speculates — and the MLB Trade Rumors piece is careful to frame this as speculation — that the Yankees could now deal García back to Arizona in exchange for a reliever such as Juan Morillo. That is a hypothetical floated in the column, not a reported negotiation, and should be read accordingly.

Why it matters

The Diamondbacks were in the National League Wild Card race when the deadline arrived, and the production coming out of first base and the DH spot was, per the report, subpar. The club missed the playoffs. Those two roster spots remain wide open going into 2027 and are described in the MLB Trade Rumors piece as clear areas for improvement before next season.

The Yankees' motivation at the deadline was also straightforward: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were both on the injured list, per the report, and the lineup needed a jolt. García provided it. Now, with the postseason underway and Judge publicly calling on the Yankees front office to go "all in" this offseason — a stance he has reiterated in recent days — the question of what New York does with a crowded first base and DH situation is a live one, even if no move has been reported.

The numbers

García hit 30 home runs in 2026 and slashed .277/.309/.521 for a wRC+ of 124, per the MLB Trade Rumors report. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for an $11MM salary in his final year of club control — a figure the report characterizes as a bargain rate if he continues to produce at that level.

The Arizona side of the ledger is considerably less cheerful. Pavin Smith, who carries a $2.25MM salary and will be due a raise in arbitration, hit .183/.262/.294 in 2026, per the report. Adrian Del Castillo posted a .193/.246/.309 line. Tyler Locklear hit well in 2026 but in a sample of just 15 games; his career major-league line stands at .190/.275/.310. Tim Tawa had a respectable season, though the report describes him as better suited to a utility role than an everyday one.

The report notes that Smith may not receive a contract tender, given his production relative to his cost. No decision has been announced by the club.

Where the club stands

The Yankees finished the regular season 93-68 (.578), sitting 2nd in the AL East, 4.5 games back of the division leader, and ranked 1st in the Wild Card standings at +9.5 relative to the cut line. They enter the postseason on a one-game winning streak and have been eliminated from the division race. The roster question around García, then, is an offseason matter — not an immediate lineup decision.

For Arizona, the offseason is already the entire conversation. The club missed the playoffs, and the 1B/DH situation that went unresolved at the deadline is now a full winter project.

What we don't know yet

Whether the Yankees actually pursue a García trade this offseason is unconfirmed — Sherman's column raises it as a possibility, not a reported development. No talks have been disclosed. The Diamondbacks have not been reported to have made any offer or inquiry since the deadline passed.

On the Arizona roster side, no non-tender decisions have been announced. The report raises the possibility that Smith could be cut loose, but that remains a front-office option, not a reported plan.

Owner Ken Kendrick has stated, per the report, that he expects Arizona's payroll to go down in 2027. That constraint shapes what the front office can realistically do at first base and DH — whether they pursue free agents such as Jake Bauers, Ty France, or Joc Pederson (names the report lists as available) or redirect resources toward pitching is a decision that has not been reported either way.

What to watch

### Could the Yankees actually trade García to Arizona?

Per the MLB Trade Rumors piece, Sherman raises the possibility of a García-for-reliever swap involving Juan Morillo, but this is framed explicitly as speculation. No deal has been reported, and the Yankees have not been said to be actively shopping García. Watch for any reporting that moves this from column hypothesis to actual negotiation.

The broader Yankees offseason picture has its own complexity. With Judge publicly calling for the front office to go "all in" — a position he has voiced repeatedly in recent days — the club is navigating a postseason run while also carrying questions about roster construction at first base and DH. Those happen to be the same positions Arizona was trying to fill at the deadline. Whether New York views García as a piece to keep or a chip to move will be one of the more interesting threads of the winter.

For Arizona, the more immediate watch is the non-tender deadline. Smith's combination of a .183 average and an upcoming arbitration raise makes him a candidate for a difficult conversation, per the report. Del Castillo's numbers don't make that conversation easier. Locklear's 15-game sample is too small to lean on. The Diamondbacks need a real answer at first base, and right now, per the reporting, they don't have one on the current roster.

The offseason is young. The Snakes have some decisions to make.