The New York Yankees were already in need of some starting pitching help around the MLB trade deadline, then a big injury made it even more urgent.
The Yankees are locked in a tight race in the AL East as the All-Star break comes to an end. While insiders expect the team to pursue help across a few areas of the roster, the need for another starting pitcher has risen to the top of the pile and could lead to a bidding war over a highly sought-after pitcher.
Injury Needs for the Yankees
As The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner noted, the Yankees took a major blow to their rotation when Clarke Schmidt went down to injury.
“The Yankeesâ need for a starting pitcher grew after they lost Clarke Schmidt to Tommy John surgery. Itâs left them without a clear No. 3 in the rotation behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodón,” Kirschner wrote. “Rookie Cam Schlittler looked promising in his debut, but itâs a big ask for an inexperienced starter to step in and be dominant right away.”
Kirschner identified several potential targets for the Yankees at the trade deadline, including Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen. He is on a one-year contract for $13.5 million, but was expected to earn a nine-figure deal with his next contract.
The Yankees could find a willing trade partner in Arizona, with USA Today insider Bob Nightengale reporting that they are expected to sell off assets at the MLB trade deadline.
âI donât see a world they donât sell,” a general manager told Nightengale. âThey have so many holes, and so many free agents.”
Nightengale noted that Gallen is expected to hit the trade block, with the Diamondbacks looking for some young pitching talent in return.
Yankees Will Face Tough Competition
The Yankees may need to outbid some other suitors if they aim to land Gallen, a list that could include the division rival Toronto Blue Jays. Nightengale reported that the Blue Jays have their eye on some pitching help, with Gallen at the top of their list.
“GMs believe that the Toronto Blue Jays could be as aggressive as any team in baseball at the deadline, believing this could be their best chance to return to the World Series since 1993,” Nightengale reported. “The Blue Jays are looking for a front-line pitcher, and have shown interest in Gallen.”
The Yankees jumped out to an early lead in the AL East but have been surpassed by the Blue Jays, who went into the All-Star break with a two-game lead over the Yankees.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there is still plenty of room for improvement, noting that the team let some wins slip away in the first half of the season.
âIncomplete. Thereâs obviously been a lot of good, thereâs been two weeks where we really struggled,â Boone said. âWe set out in spring training and the start of the year to get back to the playoffs and go chase after a world title, and all those hopes and dreams are right there. ⦠Long way to go still. We gotta keep getting better, but weâre in position to do what we need to do.â
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