MLBTR's team-by-team look at the upcoming deadline continues with the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are always trying to win the World Series and this year will certainly be no exception. The American League East is tight, as is the Wild Card race, but the Yanks are obviously going to do everything they can to strengthen the roster for the playoff push.
Record: 51-41 (89.8% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)
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Potential needs: Starting pitcher, third baseman, relievers
Before the 2025 season even began, the Yankee rotation got blown up. Luis Gil was diagnosed with a lat strain in early March, meaning he was destined to miss a decent chunk of the first half, at least. A few days later, even more ominous news came out, with Gerrit Cole getting some tests done on his elbow. The worst-case scenario eventually came to pass, as he underwent Tommy John surgery.
Cole is going to miss the entire season. Gil could be back in the mix at some point but is still on the injured list and hasn't begun a rehab assignment. Despite those two major challenges, the remaining starters have held the club above water. The rotation has a collective 3.69 earned run average this year, good for eighth in the majors. Lefties Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are each earning their salaries this year. Guys like Clarke Schmidt, Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough have done good work supporting Fried and Rodón. Marcus Stroman just returned from the IL, but Yarbrough and Schmidt both landed on the shelf recently. In Schmidt's case, he will undergo Tommy John surgery and won't be back this year.
Looking ahead to the club's playoff rotation, Fried is a lock. Rodón would be as well, though his injury track record is well known at this point. Warren tossed around 130 innings in each of the past three years and is up to 90 so far this season. Will there be any questions about his playoff effectiveness as he pushes into the 150-175 range? Stroman wasn't trusted in the club's playoff push last year and they tried to trade him in the winter. Presumably, he hasn't increased his standing in 2025, since he's spent most of the year injured. Cam Schlittler is getting a chance in the majors now but won't have much time to prove himself prior to the deadline. Adding a starter is therefore a priority and general manager Brian Cashman has confirmed as much.
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Yankees should trade for 3B Casey Schmitt from sf giants, good fielder, good bat,, long control, and righty bat.
Who would the Yankees give up for Schmitt?
Lombard, Jr., Spencer Jones, and/or Chase Hampton. Two out of the three and a few lottery picks. Not gonna happen.
@YBC – Casey Schmitt isn’t worth any of those guys…less alone 4 prospects. I take it you’re pulling Rich’s leg.
Yankees totally should. Too bad Giants won’t trade Schmidt so you might as well give up on that dream and hope the Yankees target a more realistic option. Eugino Suarez seems more likely a target and is a free agent at seasons end. Suarez has already posted close to 3 WAR before the all star break and hitting OPS+ of 141.
Far as to what to give up for Suarez. Chase Hampton, Rafael Flores, and Jesus Rodriguez.
1. Casey Schmidtt is the Giants starting second baseman
2. Giants are competing for a wild card at 51-43 and have no reason to trade Schmidt who’s hitting
.271/.361/.430 128 OPS+ and is under control for 4 or 5 more years
Yeah, SF is not trading Schmitt. They have barely enough offense.
No one “dreams” about having Casey Schmitt on their team.
Everyone dreams their favorite teams 2B would hit at least 271/.361/.430 128 OPS+
@nick
he’s having a decent year but a career .670 OPS with little power is far from a “good bat” and absolutely would not warrant 1 let alone 2 top prospects.
Casey Scmitt? Who the hell is that? Yanks go after marquis names…always, not fringe guys…we need a 3B with a big bat, not a glove man, we have Peraza but .125 ain’t getting us to the series
I hear that Jose Ramirez guy is pretty good. Wonder if he’s available.
Start with Andujar and Frazier and you might get the Guardians brass on the line
I think we can accommodate.
Jd if the guards don’t insist on deivi Garcia in the package their gm needs to be fired on the spot lol.
And he’s got a good right…
The haul would cost way too much..and he hates NYY
They are only 3 games up on not making the last wild card spot. Their odds aren’t 90% of making the playoffs. Fangraphs is really bad at playoff odds and should not be used.
Haven’t seen games this week? They’re mashing and pitching..they will play October baseball, quote me
Yankees can win AL East as is with no additions.
They can also not make the playoffs with no additions.
Mets can use some additions after the Orioles series.
Of course they will, they won’t go deep unless they add a 3B (Bat) and ideally a #3 starter, reliever would make it a lock
If they want Dylan Cease, they can get him for a bag of dirt.
Rather than that albatross of a contract for Arenado, I wonder if the Cards would deal Brendan Donovan.
He is their best player. He is versatile. He is going nowhere.
Now you’re talking, we don’t need another DJL in 3 years with Arenado who is already fading..246 10 jacks..I think like 8 Yanks have more HR than Arenado amd this is his contract year age 34? No way!
Jacob Wilson. To the Yankees and move him to Third Base +. Other to be determined future considerations in exchange for 2 years free lease of Steinbrenner Field for the A’s, …. LOL
Yeah no. Kid hasnt really played 3B since college. If you get Wilson its because youre done with Volpe.
I’m done with Volpe along with the rest of Yankees fans. LOL
Yeah im with you, unless the Yankees come out and say theyre done relying on him to produce offensively and simply be more of a defensive first SS. If he was our 9 hole i wouldnt be too upset with his level of play. But we went from being sold on him being the future leadoff guy to middle of the order with some pop and hes not fit for either role
Volpe is Didi Gregorius with better defense and basestealing abilities. Not a future HOFer.
Didi was a much better hitter than Volpe. he had 3 years of 20+ homers.Didi more comparable to Jazz Wyeth led of a glove and base stealing ability.
Bleacher
Didi had a bad first year with us, replacing Jeter was a tall order. However, Volpe has a career OPS+ of 85. Didi never finished a season with less than an 87 OPS+. You will never see Volpe have a year at the plate like 2018 Didi. Volpe is not better than Didi, you can forget about that.
*Never finished a season with less than an 87 OPS+ with the Yankees
Volpe should never be mentioned in the same article as Didi Gregorious. Volpe is much closer to Wayne Tolleson or Ramiro Pena. We could’ve traded him for a good load a few years ago, when the rest of baseball believed the hype around him. Now, nobody would even WANT him, let alone trade anything of value for him. What a relief we passed on Corey Seager for this dude!
That’s funny
Keller for Dominguez
Please tell me that’s a joke. Yeah let’s trade a budding 22 year old star for a guy who’s a number 3 on most teams.
I’m not as bullish on Jasson as you are, but throw in Bednar and Hayes in addition to Keller and I’d consider it. Don’t forget that Spencer Jones is tearing up AAA to a point where he’s forcing the issue. Hayes is an elite 3B hitting north of the Mendoza line. Bednar is one of the best relievers in the game. Keller has a strong FIP (3.39). Stro looks awful and Schllittler is going to have growing pains while he sorts his secondary pitches out. I just hope that they don’t trade Ben Rice. I have that sinking feeling they will.
Keller is an improvement over stroman but not as much as you say. Kellers best year he had an era 3.90. Around 4.25 last two years. That’s average. And he always seems to get worse as the year goes on.
So while he’s an upgrade over stroman would he make their rotation in the playoffs? Probably not. So no way yanks are giving up Domínguez for someone like that.
Testify
You’re kidding right? Yeah let’s trade a 22 year old budding star for a 3rd/4th starter that won’t improve our staff much.
Keller over Stroman would be more than a significant improvement. Jasson is only 5’9″. He stopped growing after the Yankees signed him. That’s the downside of signing 16yo’s. He lacks power and has had a lot of GB hits. Three of his HRs came in one game at a PCL band box. Yes he’s 22, but his stature limits his ceiling. Moreover, when the Yankees call up Jones, Jasson will become expendable. Moreso, if the Yankees decide to extend Bellinger or sign a top FA like Tucker. Imagining an OF of Jones, Judge, and Tucker makes me drool.
You haven’t watch Dominguez play if you think he lacks power. He’s built like a little brick house.
who cares about his height? It didn’t stop Altuve or Dustin Pedroia from hitting with power.
You’re selling Dominguez short, how many rookies hit 3 jacks in a game? He’s played platoon-style, how many would he have if he played daily? How many xbh,ribs
What is the list of teams on which Keller would be the 4th starter?
The 2026 Yankees, behind Cole, Fried and Rodon, and probably Gil.
Part of the appeal of Keller is the team control, and the Yankees really only need a 2025 rental so it means nothing to them.
What do you see Keller as? A 3.58 ERA 1.17 whip, easily a #3 with most teams
Not sure if you could get Seranthony for Keller.
@Big
Obviously you’re aPirates fan. not happening. Martian is a 20 starting to figure things out. he’s making contact, has a high walk rate. He’s not going anywhere for a mid rotation pitcher. Keller’s fastball has declined 4 consecutive years and he’s about to turn 29.
Dominguez only problem is he’s not playing daily..hard to hit 3 HR one game and get platooned
StL is your one stop shop. You need a SP, we have Fedde and Mikolas. You need a RP, we have Maton and Helsley. We even have Matz that can do both. And did you say 3B? How about a future HOF 3B in Arenado. Just give Mo a call!
@Bones – We’ll give Mo a call. Not sure he can still close at his age, but he is the GOAT closer.
Lol, no thanks we have guys who can be below average back of the rotation starters at home.
I fail to see the all the love Arenado gets. He’s been a below average hitter with a big contract for 2 years. The Cards wanted too much for him last offseason and now they’re stuck with him. As for Matz he’s 34 with a history of arm troubles. I wouldn’t give up Arias for him.
108 OPS+ in 2023
101 OPS+ in 2024
95 OPS+ and declining in 2025.
Just providing the data. Arenado is not worth it, in dollars and prospects. He finishes his career in STL.
Problem is Arenado is not the player you remember. .246 10 HR? The Yankees backup catcher Ben Rice has 14 jacks in 50 less AB’s..Jazz, Bellinger, Judge, Grisham and Austin Wells all have more than Nolan, two more have 8..wait, that’s every Yankees position player..even Dominguez is 20 points higher BA than Arenado
Yankees need 2 good relief pitchers, even with perazza and vibas they can have good defense and a pinch hitter at some point every game
You can’t give away 3-4 AB per game, kill rallies…
Cashman, just don’t do something that puts the Yankees back on the same rodent wheel they’ve been on—trade longer term assets for expensive older shorter term ones. The farm is already no better than mediocre. You might want to ask yourself why that is when both the Dodgers and Red Sox have substantially better
@Mike
What are you talking about? Name me 1 home grown player on the Dodgers other than Will Smith? They amassed their talent with $1 billion dollar in mostly deferred money. And the Red Sox have only made the playoffs one in the last 7 seasons so their far from a blueprint in how to do things. The Yankees haven’t won anything but they’ve at lest made the playoffs consistently and they’ve dune a great job of graduating kids like Gil, Schmidt, Dominguez, Volpe, Wells, Rice, Cortez and Warren. They’ve just been decimated by injuries. Keep in mind that 4/6 of our starting rotation have been injured most of this years.
TESTIFY BROTHER
Suarez will take a haul with 29 HR, teams will overpay, ignoring his .198-.240 BA, his 200+ KO’s per year but not NYY
Yankees problem doesn’t change much year-to-year: They crush mediocre teams/and/or mediocre pitching, and are oftentimes completely shut out by good pitchers. Thus, their regular season numbers are always good, but their postseason play is not enough to overcome top-tier pitching.
Their plate approach should mirror Bellinger’s. He’s an awesome all-around player.
Yankees need a 3B, everyone has Suarez being the most likely the Yankee choice. They are going to have competition from the Cubs and Mariners. Question is are the Yankees willing to overpay the D’Backs for him. Heard the Mariners who have made numerous trades with the D’Backs before really want Suarez back. Would the Yankees look to Colorado for a deal for McMahon instead. Might get him at a cheaper trade price instead of overpaying for Suarez.
Warren, Flores & Greyson Carter for Keller, Heaney & kiner-falefa…
We already had 2 of them, why do we want IKF back 1 HR in 2025..we already have gloves