​The Yankees were recently predicted to trade for a non-Tarik Skubal or Sandy Alcantara starter, a development that originally appeared in The Sporting News. The piece also notes The Sporting News as a preferred source, with a prompt to click here to add it as such. Injuries and underperforming stretches have fueled a growing sense that New York needs to bolster its pitching staff before this year’s trade deadline.
As I’ve long argued, contending teams like the Yankees should be expected to add at least one or two bullpen arms, and that logic applies here as well. I’d welcome the club making the right moves on the mound, including at least one trade or acquisition aimed at upgrading the starting rotation.
The Yankees will have a broad list of options to consider, with names such as Tarik Skubal, Sonny Gray, Sandy Alcantara, and others reportedly available. There are also some under-the-radar possibilities on the market, including Michael Wacha. Wacha has delivered solid work in recent seasons, including a stint with the Kansas City Royals, and could be a fitting addition for New York. He’s been cited in predictions as a potential fit, and the sense is that it would make sense for the Yankees to pursue him.
“The Yankees currently operate with a four-man rotation as they await the returns of Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. Once those two rejoin the roster, the rotation should be in a strong position. Still, there’s room to add Wacha, who can move to the bullpen if needed, though a bullpen role might be more likely for Will Warren,” wrote Thomas Carelli. Carelli also notes that the value of a veteran like Wacha would come more from run support and bullpen depth than from the pitcher’s own dominance. He points out that the Yankees rank fifth in MLB in offensive rating and sixth in bullpen WAR, underscoring that the overall team context matters in evaluating fit.
But it’s important to recognize that a veteran like Wacha isn’t envisioned as a one-stop savior for the Yankees. He has pitched at a high level this season, posting a 3.45 ERA across 114.2 innings, yet he isn’t in the same elite category as the top ace-caliber arms that could be available. That reality is a key factor the Yankees will need to weigh in the near term.
There’s ongoing chatter around other teams as well. For instance, the Phillies reportedly have Cristopher Sánchez positioned as an NL All-Star starter, while the Padres appear to be sellers at the trade deadline if improvements aren’t forthcoming. Other discussions include a Jays-Mets deal involving top-10 prospects for Freddy Peralta, and rumors about the Astros showing interest in Rockies outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy. Meanwhile, the Angels’ GM publicly pushed back on a Phillies rumor involving Mike Trout, highlighting the broader, swirling market landscape as teams evaluate their options heading toward the deadline.