Yankees Will Check on Cy Young Winner at Trade Deadline

The New York Yankees are certainly loaded on starting pitching, but that doesn't mean they won't be interested in the best starter available at the MLB trade deadline.

According to ESPN insider Jeff Passan, the Yankees "will gauge the cost" of Detroit Tigers back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal this summer.

As the old adage in baseball goes, "you can never have too much pitching," and the rich would be getting richer if the Yankees were to acquire Skubal at the deadline.

The Yankees' rotation currently features Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers. All-Star pitcher Max Fried (bone bruise in left elbow) will be back from his injury at some point and Clarke Schmidt should return from Tommy John surgery later in the year. If this unit can remain intact, they would have seven viable starters.

So, Skubal would give the Yankees' eight superb options to start games, but pitching injuries do occur and when you have an opportunity to go out and get the best starter in the game it's a no-brainer.

However, Skubal will likely be pricey to acquire. He's a free agent after the season ends, but is the best pitcher in the league.

The question that remains to be seen is whether the Yankees have enough prospect capital to land Skubal this year, they might not. They would like to avoid dealing their No. 1 prospect in infielder George Lombard Jr., but would maybe send outfielder Spencer Jones and others to Detroit.

Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers have better ranked farm systems (No. 1 and No. 2 in MLB, respectively) to trade for Skubal. The Chicago Cubs could really use Skubal or any frontline starter given their starting pitching injury woes, but they likely don't have a good enough farm system (ranked No. 23) to get him.

The Yankees also have far greater needs elsewhere such as third base, catcher and bullpen. New York could use a new closer given the struggles of David Bednar this season as well.

Skubal had surgery last month to remove a loose body in his left elbow. He is expected to return from the injured list in June, which is a very speedy recovery timeline.

The 25-38 Tigers, who are in fourth place in the AL Central division, will likely trade Skubal to a contender at the deadline in return for a historic package of prospects.

Once Skubal becomes a free agent this winter, he should draw the largest long-term contract for a starting pitcher in MLB history.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 10:43 AM.