The New York Yankees, essentially like every season, are all-in this year. With a payroll as high as New York’s + the star power of Aaron Judge and the pressure of the front office, the Yankees are World Series or nothing. Unfortunately for New York, they have such a depleted starting rotation due to several injuries. About a week ago, it was announced that Clarke Schmidt would miss the rest of this season with Tommy John Surgery, and that’s on top of the likes of Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil not pitching an inning this season.
If the Yankees want to make a deep playoff run, having just Max Fried and Carlos Rodon at the top of the rotation isn’t going to do it. The offense looks fine, with Judge having another MVP-caliber season and the pieces around him like Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr., their offense is still very capable.
With MLB’s trade deadline just two weeks away, the Yankees need to make a splash in the starting pitcher market.
Trade Idea: New York Lands Mitch Keller from the Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are headed towards being sellers and will likely listen to offers on anyone except Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh does still have capable starters that can be made available, though, like Mitch Keller. Keller was an All-Star in 2023 and is putting together another quality season this year. Keller has a 3.48 ERA in 119 innings this season, making him an attractive trade candidate. He would slot in perfectly as the third starter for the New York Yankees, which desperately needs a quality right-handed arm. Keller has also made 20 starts already this season, which is the most in Major League Baseball, and is on pace for 200 innings.
Keller isn’t set to be a free agent until a few years from now, so he is a controllable pitcher, but that also drives up his price, as Pittsburgh is in the midst of a rebuild. Aside from his teammate Skenes, Keller might have the worst starter luck in MLB. His record is 3-10, thanks to the putrid offense of the Pirates, which should make Keller excited that he is the subject of many trade talks.
The Yankees have slipped a little bit over the last month. They once held a comfortable division lead, but that has given way to the Toronto Blue Jays, and now they have the same number of wins as the surging Boston Red Sox. The time is now for New York to be as active as it’s ever been at the deadline.
What Would a Good Return Package Look Like?
Again, since Keller is controllable through the 2028 season on a five-year, $77 million deal, the asking price would be semi-high, but something that the New York Yankees can certainly still afford. A good return for the Pittsburgh Pirates would be pitching prospect Cam Schittler, starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, and infielder Oswaldo Peraza. Schittler just made his MLB debut and could be a good piece for the Pirates in the future, as it’s unclear how much the Yankees will use him. Stroman has been in and out of the rotation with injuries, and it might be best to move on from him as well.
Bottom line, the Yankees need to make a splash at this year’s deadline if they have hopes of returning to the Fall Classic in late October.
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