The New York Yankees have been intertwined with he Chicago Cubs' offseason.
After the Yankees were unable to bring Juan Soto back in free agency, the team pivoted to Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros. However, the Cubs wasted no time in their efforts to trade for Tucker, forcing the Yankees to eventually turn to Cody Bellinger as part of their fallback solution to losing Soto.
The Yankees appear to turning to the Cubs' well once more.
On Tuesday, the Yankees agreed to a minor-league deal with former Cubs' top prospect Brennan Davis.
As the Cubs' core of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Scwarber were contending at the Major League level, Davis was once believed to be at the center of the next core of the Cubs following their World Series run in 2016. Davis was the Cubs' top prospect during their last contention window but a series of back injuries derailed his ascension toward the Major League level.
Injuries once again limited Davis to only 55 games but he flashed signs of top prospect potential at Triple-A Iowa. With the Iowa Cubs this season, Davis compiled a wRC+ of 116 to go with 11 home runs in 181 plate appearances. Davis seemed to be playing his way toward reaching the Major League level with the Cubs this past season before another back injury forced him to miss most of June, July, and August before returning for the final month of the minor league season.
The Cubs non-tendered Davis last month as it became clear that with his injury concern as well as the logjam of outfielders the Cubs had at the Major League level and at the top of their prospect rankings, the former top prospect was on borrowed time with the organization.
If Davis can prove to stay healthy, there is a chance that he will reach the Major League level with the Yankees next season. Given the setbacks he has suffered in recent seasons, such an outcome would be a remarkable story.