Insider explains why the Yankees are betting on internal options instead of signing a starter

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The New York Yankees have no interest in pursuing a free-agent pitcher or making a trade at this time. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, New York is not impressed with the current market and does not see value in making a move.

“It seems to me that they don’t like what is out there,” Rosenthal said on Foul Territory on Thursday.

Yankees unwilling to spend

The remaining free-agent pitchers include Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, and Spencer Turnbull, but the Yankees do not see them as worthwhile additions. The trade market is another potential avenue, yet team executives appear uninterested in engaging at this stage, especially given the high asking prices that often come with early-season deals.

Adding to the reluctance is the financial burden of the luxury tax. With the Yankees already exceeding the highest luxury tax threshold—often referred to as the Steve Cohen tax line—any additional salary would be taxed at 110%. That means signing a pitcher for $5 million would effectively cost the team $11 million.

Rosenthal noted that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has emphasized the organization’s financial constraints.

“Brian Cashman raised eyebrows around the industry when he said the luxury tax is a concern,” Rosenthal said. “They are already over the Steve Cohen line, so they have to pay 110% tax on any player they sign.”

Yankees Rotation Faces Setback as Injuries Shake Up Plans

The Yankees’ starting rotation has taken a major hit ahead of the 2025 season, with injuries sidelining key pitchers Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil. The setbacks have raised concerns about the team’s depth, but despite the challenges, the Yankees have made it clear that they are not looking to spend any more money this season.

Cole, the Yankees’ ace, will miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Gil suffered a lat strain that is expected to keep him out for at least three months, though he is projected to return this season. These losses have left a significant gap in the rotation, raising questions about how the Yankees will adjust.

However, instead of looking outside for reinforcements, the Yankees are sticking to their internal options, unwilling to take on additional payroll or pay the steep luxury tax penalties associated with any new acquisitions.

Yankees sticking with internal options

With external reinforcements off the table, the Yankees will rely on their current roster to fill out the rotation. Max Fried is expected to take over as the staff ace in Cole’s absence, followed by Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman. The battle for the fifth spot remains undecided, with Will Warren, Carlos Carrasco, and Allan Winans competing for the role.

Cashman acknowledged that exploring outside options is unlikely to be productive.

“We’ll just evaluate what’s available, and this time of year, very little is available,” Cashman said. “Normally, the more significant opportunities don’t exist until the trade deadline.

“When we’ve had these conversations many a time over, you hope you can withstand injuries and avoid them early from spring training up through the draft because going outside the organization is just that much more difficult to do. So we’ll rely on what we have and explore what’s limited in the marketplace.”

Even if the Yankees were to reconsider adding a free agent, Cashman pointed out that the delay in spring training participation would present another hurdle.

“It makes it more difficult when somebody’s not involved in a camp—our camp or anywhere else,” Cashman said. “With the window narrowing on the season, ours starting on March 27, that makes it more difficult to onboard anybody, especially pitching. … It just takes a while to get guys going and ramped up and into competition.”

With Cole out for the year, the Yankees will turn to newly signed left-hander Max Fried to lead the rotation. Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with New York this offseason, understands the expectations that come with stepping into the ace role but remains focused on his own performance.

“At the end of the day, no one is Gerrit Cole, right?” Fried said. “I’ve got to take the ball every time I take the ball. It doesn’t matter if he was on the mound or not. Realistically, it’s just about doing my job. It’s going out there and making sure that, when I take the ball, we have a really good chance to win that day.”

The Yankees will need Fried to deliver top-tier performances as they navigate the season without Cole. While the rotation is not at full strength, the team remains confident in its depth and internal solutions—at least for now. However, if struggles arise early in the season, the front office may have to reconsider its stance and explore external options before the trade deadline.

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