The New York Yankees are optimistic about Clarke Schmidt’s return in the near future following a promising recent rehab outing from the right-hander.
Still, with Carlos Carrasco currently occupying a spot in the rotation, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Yankees should consider acquiring another right-handed starter soon.
In a trade scenario proposed by Jonathan Vankin of Newsweek, the Yankees could address this need by landing Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke. The move would not only give them a replacement for Carrasco—whose performances have been inconsistent—but also bring in a young, promising arm to bolster the rotation while Schmidt and Luis Gil work their way back from injury.
According to Vankin, such a trade would benefit the Yankees both now and in the long term. Burke, a Massachusetts native, was drafted in the third round by the White Sox in 2021 out of the University of Maryland.
He impressed during his brief MLB stint last season, posting a 1.89 ERA over 19 innings in three starts, and even earned the Opening Day start for Chicago this year. At 25 years old, Burke still retains rookie eligibility and was considered the White Sox’s top pitching prospect going into 2023.
While Schmidt’s health is trending in the right direction—a major plus for the Yankees—adding another reliable arm like Burke could still make sense for the team. The challenge? Convincing the White Sox to part ways with a young, controllable pitcher. Burke, who had a 1.42 ERA over 19.0 innings last season, has shown legitimate potential at the major league level.
Schmidt, meanwhile, is confident in his recovery and excited to get back on the mound.
“I just want to be a top-of-the-rotation guy,” Schmidt told the New York Times. “I want to go out there every five days and give my team a chance to win. That’s the most important thing to me.
“If you can do that consistently as a starting pitcher, you’re doing your job at a high level. The rest will take care of itself.”
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