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1 trade Yankees must not make at 2026 MLB trade deadline
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The New York Yankees are limping to the finish line of the first half of the MLB season. Once again, they started the season hot and hope to make it to the deadline in the race before adding reinforcements. The Yankees need help at the MLB Trade Deadline, but they should not pay the price for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal .
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Skubal has won two consecutive American League Cy Young Awards , making him one of the most valuable assets in the league. He has returned from an elbow injury with his velocity in great shape, which is huge ahead of the deadline. With the Tigers well out of the AL Wild Card race, the trade conversations will start heating up soon.
The Yankees have not been great at developing their first-round picks into stars at the MLB level. Enough has been said about Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells this season to prove that theory . That means George Lombard Jr and Spencer Jones have a bit of mystery around them, considering the lack of homegrown offensive talent.
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The Tigers are going to ask for the world in a Skubal trade, and the Yankees have untouchable pieces. They cannot trade Ben Rice or Cam Schlittler and expect to compete this year . And with no contract extension attached to Skubal for now, that is too much of a risk. If Detroit demands one or both of those players, Brian Cashman should hang up the phone.
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The Tigers will be able to trade Skubal to someone for an incredible haul. But the Yankees should sit out, resting on their strong pitching staff heading into the postseason. Adding a right-handed catcher and an infielder would turn into their top priorities.
The Yankees can get a pitcher besides Tarik Skubal
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Just because the Yankees and Tigers are not perfect trade partners does not mean the Yankees can't get a pitcher. If Max Fried's injury continues to linger and Will Warren keeps struggling, starting pitching will be a need for them. There are other pitchers available on the market, however, heading into the trade deadline.
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San Francisco Giants veteran Robbie Ray will be a free agent at the end of the year, which will bring down the cost of acquiring him. The Yankees usually prefer picking up players with multiple years of control, but Ray is a strong pitcher who can bridge the gap caused by injuries. He is a better value add than Skubal, despite the obvious gap in talent.
The Yankees would be better off spending their trade assets on a catcher and a reliever. They desperately need a right-handed-hitting catcher, as Austin Wells and JC Escarra have both been brutal this year. Ryan Jeffers is the biggest name on the market, but Tyler Stephenson from the Cincinnati Reds is another option.
The Yankees' bullpen has been dreadful this year outside of closer David Bednar . Camilo Doval , Tim Hill , and Jake Bird can all be improved upon in the trade market after miserable first halves. But the Yankees have spent so much trade capital on relief pitching in previous years; are they going to make a different move?
The Yankees have needs and absolutely need to make trades. But the Tigers are going to ask too much for Skubal, especially when he will hit the open market in the winter.
Related: Yankees PxP voice Michael Kay admits wrong amid Anthony Volpe drama
Related: Aaron Boone comes to Anthony Volpe's defense amid harsh criticism
