The New York Yankees continue to hold a strong lead in the American League East, boasting the second-best record in the AL at 35-22—even after stumbling with two losses in their recent three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a brutal 18-2 defeat on Saturday.
Despite their strong position for a postseason berth, the Yankees may still need reinforcements in their starting rotation. Throughout the season, much attention has been on Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner, as a prime trade target.
However, Alcantara’s status as a trade option has dimmed as he struggles to bounce back from Tommy John surgery. Once a dominant pitcher with an ERA never above 3.88 from 2018 to 2022, Alcantara has struggled mightily since returning, posting an alarming 8.47 ERA, leading the NL in earned runs allowed with 48 over 11 starts, and carrying a high 1.67 WHIP. Even his fielding-independent pitching (FIP) of 5.38 suggests his poor performance isn’t just due to Miami’s shaky defense.
With Alcantara looking like a risky bet, MLB analyst Sara Molnick from Pinstripes Nation suggests the Yankees consider a different option: Tyler Anderson, a 35-year-old lefty from the Los Angeles Angels. Molnick highlights Anderson’s durability and consistency—two qualities Brian Cashman, the Yankees’ GM, highly values.
Anderson has been an All-Star twice in the last three years and has made at least 27 starts every full season since 2021. Given the Yankees’ ongoing struggles with pitching injuries—most notably 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, sidelined for the year with Tommy John surgery, and last year’s Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, out until at least July—Anderson’s ability to reliably pitch quality innings without drama could be a huge asset.
Drafted 20th overall by the Rockies in 2011, Anderson joined the Angels in 2022 as a free agent and is currently in the final year of his three-year, $39 million deal. That means acquiring him wouldn’t require a big financial commitment or giving up many top prospects.
This season, Anderson has a respectable 3.39 ERA in 11 starts for the 26-31 Angels, averaging about six innings per outing. While some advanced stats suggest he might regress, Molnick notes he’s consistently exceeded expectations. With the Angels unlikely to make the playoffs, Anderson could be available without the Yankees having to deplete their farm system.
Thanks to relatively healthy starters, the Yankees bullpen has been lightly used, ranking 14th fewest in innings pitched across MLB. Adding Anderson would not only bolster the rotation but also help keep the bullpen fresh—a key factor for success in the postseason, which the Yankees are firmly aiming for.
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