The New York Yankees will kick off their season on March 27, but they’ll be without some of their key pitchers, including the most significant loss, Gerrit Cole. After undergoing surgery, Cole is out for the season, and the Yankees now face the challenge of replacing him. Unfortunately, options are limited for the team.
Although the Yankees’ prospect pool isn’t as deep as it once was, they still have some valuable pieces they could trade. Whether this would be enough to land a top-tier ace is uncertain, but they do have prospects that could be moved in larger deals if the front office is willing to make changes.
One potential target is Zac Gallen, a right-handed starter with Cy Young-caliber stuff that the Yankees could hope will become available. Deesha Thosar from Fox Sports suggested the Yankees might pursue him, questioning if the Arizona Diamondbacks would be willing to pay Gallen after their recent big commitment to Corbin Burnes.
Zac Gallen,
Gallen, 29, will hit free agency after this season and is expected to command a $200 million deal if he has another strong year. Thosar noted that if the Diamondbacks fall out of playoff contention by the summer, they could consider trading Gallen at the deadline for a strong return. By that time, the Yankees would likely face competition for his services, meaning Arizona would need a substantial offer to part with their ace.
Are the Yankees Interested? The Yankees are in need of pitching, but with spring training in full swing, their options are limited. They might look to sign a free agent, but there are no standout arms like Gallen currently available.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman acknowledged the challenge, emphasizing that significant opportunities usually don’t arise until the trade deadline. “We’ll evaluate what’s available, but this time of year, very little is available,” Cashman said, a day after Cole’s season-ending Tommy John surgery was announced. “Normally, the bigger opportunities don’t exist until the Trade Deadline. You hope to avoid injuries early on, but going outside the organization is difficult. We’ll rely on what we have and explore what’s out there.”
Waiting until the deadline could be risky, but there’s a better chance a player like Gallen could be available by then.
Cashman Aware of the Need to Trade Prospects At this point in the offseason and season, the Yankees may have no choice but to move some of their prospects to land a top pitcher. Cashman understands that, noting both the limited supply of pitchers and the financial costs involved.
“We’ve got big commitments already,” Cashman said. “The inventory available will be limited, and there are costs associated with acquiring them—both in terms of prospects and money.”
Gallen, however, is only making $13.5 million this year before he hits free agency next winter, making him a more affordable option for teams like the Yankees.
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