It’s trade season! The New York Yankees are actively engaging in the trade market. As the AL East race intensifies, New York aims to strengthen their roster to compete with the Baltimore Orioles, particularly by improving their starting pitching.
The Yankees are eyeing top-tier pitchers, including Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers and Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. New York’s interest is growing, primarily because they are now open to trading a significant asset, according to Bob Nightengale.
“For the first time, the New York Yankees are considering including their No. 1 prospect, Spencer Jones, in a trade for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet or Tigers Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal.”
This move is sure to attract attention. Jones, an outfielder in the Yankees’ minor league system, was ranked 15th in MLB’s prospect list earlier this year, and his power potential is noteworthy.
However, is this enough to sway the White Sox? Not yet. They are holding out for a better offer from the Yankees or another team.
“The White Sox, however, are waiting for a bigger package from the Yankees and others.”
With the trade deadline a week away, the White Sox are betting on the Yankees’ urgency. They might not be eager to trade Crochet now, but a more appealing deal could change their stance.
Yankees gearing up for major second-half explosion
The Yankees have had a fascinating season. They started strong, taking a commanding lead in the AL East while the Orioles struggled early on. With Aaron Judge and Juan Soto at the helm, it seemed like the Yankees would easily secure the division title.
However, the Orioles managed to regain their form from last season, and the Yankees experienced a minor slump mid-season. This allowed Baltimore to catch up and eventually overtake New York in the standings. Currently, the Yankees are two games behind Baltimore in the AL East.
Despite this, the Yankees’ strong record suggests they should still make the playoffs, barring a major late-season collapse. Securing the first seed would significantly benefit them, likely earning them a first-round bye and putting the Orioles on a tougher playoff path. This would be the optimal outcome for the Yankees.
To achieve this, bolstering their pitching rotation is crucial. Adding Skubal and Crochet would provide more stability. While the Yankees have a solid rotation on paper, they have been somewhat inconsistent. Even with Gerrit Cole returning, New York still needs additional arms to prepare for the playoffs. Can they make these necessary improvements?