Yankees Pitching Search: Latest Targets, Trades, Signings and Strategy

The New York Yankees are walking a tightrope this offseason. They’re trying to land a frontline starting pitcher, but they’re also juggling other roster needs.

They took a swing at Edward Cabrera, chatting with the Miami Marlins before he went to the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees are still poking around the pitching market, but they’re picky and keeping an eye on possible upgrades for position players too.

Yankees Pivot After Missing Out on Edward Cabrera

For a while, Edward Cabrera looked like a real possibility for New York. The Marlins listened to offers on the talented but unpredictable righty, and the Yankees put together a proposal centered on Ben Hess, Dillon Lewis, and another young player.

Miami ended up picking Chicago’s deal instead. The Cubs offered outfielder Owen Caissie, Cristian Hernandez, and Edgardo De Leon.

That move made it clear the Marlins wanted bats, especially someone close to big-league ready.

Why Miami Preferred the Cubs’ Package

The Marlins liked Lewis, but Chicago’s offer of Caissie changed things. Caissie could even break camp as an Opening Day outfielder.

The Yankees just weren’t willing to dip into their very top prospects to match that kind of offensive potential.

Remaining Trade Targets: Peralta, Gore, and the Skubal Wall

Missing out on Cabrera hasn’t stopped the Yankees from chasing pitching help. People around the league still link them to Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore.

Both guys check the boxes for New York: they’re controllable, have good stuff, and enough experience to start in October. That’s huge, especially with all the question marks in the Yankees’ rotation right now.

Why Tarik Skubal Is a Long Shot

Tarik Skubal from Detroit? That’s a dream, but it feels out of reach. The Tigers want a massive return—maybe too much—and the Yankees don’t seem eager to empty the farm for one arm, even a dominant one.

Current Rotation: Depth Over Dominance

Right now, the Yankees are patching together innings. The projected rotation looks like this:

Carlos Rodón should return from elbow surgery around late April or early May, but until then, this is the group.

Injuries Loom Large

The injury bug is still hanging around. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are both coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Schmidt’s status for 2026 is still up in the air since he had surgery last July. Even Fried, who usually stays healthy, just had his heaviest workload in 2025—so, yeah, fatigue is a real worry.

Why the Yankees Still Want a Playoff-Caliber Starter

The Yankees aren’t looking for a top starter just for show. They want someone they can count on in October if things go sideways with Schlittler, Fried gets tired, or injuries strike again.

They brought back Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn, which helps with depth. But let’s be honest, neither guy is a real ace. And when it’s the playoffs, that can make all the difference.

Position Players Take Priority

Here’s something that’s stood out this winter: the Yankees are mostly chasing pitchers through trades, not free agency. That’s not a coincidence.

They’re clearly trying to save money for offense, keeping their options open in case the right bat comes along.

Cody Bellinger Tops the Wishlist

Cody Bellinger still sits at the top of the Yankees’ free-agent wishlist. They see him as a big bat for the middle of the lineup and love his defensive flexibility.

If talks fall apart, Toronto’s Bo Bichette might come up as a trade target. It’s not the most likely scenario, but hey, baseball’s weird sometimes.

Right now, the Yankees wait. They’re trying to balance patience and urgency, hoping that landing one more reliable arm will finally push them past all those lingering “what ifs.”

 
Here is the source article for this story: Latest On Yankees’ Pitching Search