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New York Yankees' Pitcher Trade Seems Almost Inevitable
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- New York Yankees' Pitcher Trade Seems Almost Inevitable
(Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
The New York Yankees are entering an MLB offseason full of question marks after yet another embarrassing playoff exit, and they will have to find ways to get creative.
The free-agent market is relatively thin, and the Yankees are no longer the big-game hunters they once were. Not only that, but it's not even like New York has a ton of glaring holes that desperately need improvement.
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Basically, the Yankees just need some sort of change, because what they have been doing for the better part of the last decade of the Aaron Judge era has not been working.
Perhaps the best way for New York to go about retooling its roster is to swing some trades , and one obvious path seems to be moving one of Will Warren or Ryan Weathers.
The Yankees have six incredibly capable starting pitchers: Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Warren and Weathers. They also have some names in their farm system — such as Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange — who will be vying for spots in the rotation soon.
Taking that into consideration, Warren and Weathers become obvious trade candidates.
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Do I think New York will move both? No. The injuries the Yankees experienced this season is a clear indication that they still need that valuable rotation depth, and both Warren and Weathers provide that. But do they really need both of them?
Warren pitched to the tune of a 3.92 ERA over 29 starts in 2026, and while his 1.365 WHIP and 9.2 H/9 were a bit high, it's important to keep in mind that he is New York's No. 5 starter . You will take those numbers any day from a fifth arm.
Weathers, meanwhile, logged a 3.60 ERA through 25 starts. He missed the final month of the regular season due to an elbow flexor strain, and he was pretty inconsistent throughout the campaign. But when he is on, he's terrific.
The Yankees could look to move Weathers and his 9.4 K/9 rate to the bullpen next season, especially if fellow left-handers Ryan Yarbrough and Tim Hill depart via free agency. Righties David Bednar and Paul Blackburn are slated hit the open market, as well.
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If New York is already zeroing in on Weathers to fill a hole in the later innings (which is entirely possible), it may view him as an almost indispensable piece.
But would the Yanks really avoid trading Weathers for an upgrade elsewhere just because they might be putting him in the pen?
Regardless, one of those two hurlers will almost certainly be available this winter. It makes too much sense. And selling high on Weathers in particular given his checkered injury history may be the best move to make.
