As the New York Yankees scramble to adjust to the loss of ace Gerrit Cole for the season, a surprising trade target has emerged: a pitcher from the Philadelphia Phillies who has been quietly reviving his career this spring. The Yankees, in desperate need of starting rotation help, could look to this rejuvenated arm to add depth and stability to their staff before the season begins.
Despite a tough 2024 campaign, this pitcher has shown significant improvement during spring training, making him an intriguing option for teams like the Yankees. After struggling with a fastball velocity that topped out at just 90.2 mph last year, he’s now firing his fastball at 93.9 mph, a marked improvement that has grabbed the attention of scouts around the league.
In his two Grapefruit League starts, the pitcher has allowed just two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out four batters and walking none. His ability to regain his command and show movement on his pitches has made him one of the spring’s most intriguing stories. Given his past success and the way he’s turned things around, teams desperate for starting pitching could be lining up for a chance to acquire him.
Manager Rob Thomson has kept him in the mix as a starter, but with Matt Strahm’s uncertain status for Opening Day, the pitcher’s role with the Phillies could be up in the air. The Yankees, already facing rotation uncertainty with Cole’s injury, might find themselves in a perfect position to make a move. Adding this pitcher to their roster would not only help fill the void left by Cole but also provide some much-needed stability in a rotation now facing a lot of question marks.
Despite his $36 million price tag over the next two seasons, his revived form could make him an appealing option for the Yankees. If the Phillies are willing to part with him, New York could be ready to pull the trigger on a trade, bolstering their pitching staff as they navigate a difficult start to the season.
