Yankees insider says New York could abruptly cut ties with No. 1 prospect

Just how all-in are the 2025 New York Yankees?

In what looks to be a wide-open American League, the Yankees have a great shot at a return trip to the World Series. At the same time, they learned last season that making it that far means very little if you can't finish the job.

The trade deadline will be the Yankees' last, best opportunity to load up the roster for a playoff push. Unfortunately, their farm system is thin at the moment, so it won't be easy to acquire top talent without hurting the future.

Could New York be so gung-ho about a World Series run that they're willing to part ways with their only Top-100 prospect? One insider believes it's possible.

On Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com named infielder George Lombard Jr., the number-one prospect in New York's system, as the team's "best trade chip" heading into the summer. 

Lombard has drawn praise from Yankees veterans and scouts from other organizations alike early this season, earning a promotion to Double-A at age 19. Jazz Chisholm Jr. said during a recent rehab assignment that he expects Lombard will make it to the big leagues soon, where he will 'rise and shine as a star,'" Hoch wrote.

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"Double-A manager Raul Dominguez compared Lombard to Omar Vizquel defensively, saying he believes Lombard 'can be one of those guys to win a lot of Gold Gloves in the big leagues.'”

The 20-year-old Lombard has struggled with the transition to Double-A so far, putting up a .604 OPS and no home runs in his first 29 games. But he shredded High-A before earning his promotion, so there's plenty of reason to have faith he'll turn things around.

Beyond Lombard, there are no sure things in the Yankees' system on the position player side. It would be a major gamble to move him, and New York would have to be certain they were getting a star, ideally for more than just half a season.

It will be highly intriguing to see if New York entertains the notion of parting ways with the young star.

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