Top 3 Starting Pitching Trade Targets for the Yankees

The Yankees should be in the market for starters going into 2026

Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

One of the biggest issues the Yankees faced in the ALDS where they lost to the AL Champion Blue Jays was their starting pitching overall, and with Carlos Rodon going down with an injury and starting the season on the IL, the Yankees need to add a starter this offseason.

The Yankees should look to add a front line starter this offseason. In the words of former voice of the New York Yankees, John Sterling, “pitching wins championships”. The more front line starters you have in your rotation, the better chance you have at a championship. It also adds to your overall rotation depth in the regular season, proving less taxing on your bullpen. Max Fried, who went deep into games often for the Yankees, won 19 games this season because it was less innings for the bullpen to take on each start, and having that three or four times per rotation cycle would take the pressure off each reliever to be perfect every time out.

Another note on adding a front line starter, nobody knows what Gerrit Cole will look like when returning from Tommy John this season, and adding a front line starter would provide an insurance policy if Cole is delayed or ineffective.

1. Tarik Skubal

Yes, the Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The Tigers are currently $250 million appart in negotiations on a potential extension and it is possible that the Tigers trade Skubal to capitalize on value now. If Skubal is on the block, the Yankees need to be in the conversation.

Skubal’s numbers were Cy Young Caliber in 2025, posting a 2.21 era in 195.1 innings pitched. Opponents hit .200 with a .559 OPS against this season. Skubal is set to win his second AL Cy Young this season.

A package for Skubal would probably cost the Yankees both Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr., and then some. The Tigers are going to take any trade partner to the cleaners with just how coveted Skubal is, and there is always a special Yankee Tax. It would be a big time trade, and there is no guarantee that Skubal resigns, so giving up all that capital would be concerning.

2. Sandy Alcantara

The former NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara will likely be traded this offseason as apart of the annual Marlins fire sale. Alcantara had a down season coming off Tommy John Surgery, but his second half numbers were much better than his first half numbers, looking like his former self.

Credit: Baseball Reference

A package for Alcantara would be a lot less for the Yankees, and when negotiations were taking place at the trade deadline, the Marlins were asking for Spencer Jones. A trade for Alcantara could be a much bigger deal if the Yankees were to target some of Miami’s high-end relievers to fill their void in the bullpen.

3. Freddie Peralta

The Brewers are considering trading their ace, Freddie Peralta in his walk year. Peralta was anchor of MLB’s best regular season team, posting a 2.70 ERA in 176.2 innings pitched with an opponents batting average of .193 with a .604 OPS against.

A package for Peralta would be interesting because it’s unknown just how much the Brewers would ask for Peralta, knowing it’s his walk year, but knowing the potential that Peralta has, I could see the Brewers asking for a top-end prospects like Spencer Jones, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, and/or Carlos Lagrange. Peralta is a very good candidate for the Yankees get, and the front offices have a very good working relationship.

The bottom line is the Yankees need to add a big time starter this offseason to make their path to the World Series much easier in 2026. It will be a hit to the Yankees farm system, but if there ever was a time for the Yankees to go for it coming off a disapointing season in Judge’s prime, the time is now.

Top 3 Starting Pitching Trade Targets for the Yankees was originally published in FanZone Report on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.