The New York Yankees are optimistic about getting Clarke Schmidt back soon after his strong rehab start a few days ago.
However, with Carlos Carrasco still in the rotation, the Yankees should consider trading for a right-handed starter in the near future.
In a trade proposal by Jonathan Vankin of Newsweek, the Yankees could acquire Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke, particularly given Carrasco’s struggles and underwhelming performances.
This potential deal would allow the Yankees to move Carrasco and replace him with a promising right-handed prospect while they wait for injured starters Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil to return. The trade would also help the Yankees plan for the future by bringing in Burke, a rookie pitcher from Massachusetts who was drafted by the White Sox in 2021. Burke, who posted an impressive 1.89 ERA over 19 innings in three games last season, was also the White Sox’s opening day starter this year. At 25 years old, Burke remains a rookie through this season and was the team’s top-ranked pitching prospect in 2023 before making his MLB debut.
Schmidt’s Health a Positive for the Yankees
For now, the Yankees are focused on Schmidt’s health, which has been promising.
At some point, though, adding a player like Burke could be beneficial. The challenge for the Yankees in acquiring Burke lies in the fact that the White Sox may not be keen on trading him at this point. The 25-year-old has shown promise at the major league level, posting a 1.42 ERA in 19 innings last season.
As for Schmidt, he’s optimistic about his recovery and ready to rejoin the Yankees’ rotation.
“Just being like a top-of-the-rotation type of guy,” Schmidt said, according to the New York Times. “Just being able to go out there and have high expectations and expect every five days you go out there and give your team a chance to win, that’s like the No. 1 thing for me. So if you’re doing that as a starting pitcher, you’re doing your job, and you’re doing it at a high level, so just being able to be consistent and someone that they can rely on. And then, I think the rest of it will figure itself out.”
Aaron Judge’s Thoughts on Schmidt
The Yankees know they need more pitching to compete for a World Series, and adding a starter may be essential. However, getting Schmidt back soon should be a big help, as even Aaron Judge appreciates what he brings to the rotation.
“Just a bulldog,” Judge told The Post. “You can see it. He’s intense. He’s focused. The guy prepares like no other. I think that’s something that he probably picked up from watching guys like Gerrit Cole for so many years now and how he prepares for games.”
The Yankees will likely assess how many rehab starts Schmidt needs, but his progress so far has been encouraging.
