The New York Yankees have made a significant move by signing left-handed pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract, marking the largest deal ever for a left-handed pitcher.
This acquisition bolsters the Yankees’ starting rotation, which now includes Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Luis Gil, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt.
With this depth, General Manager Brian Cashman acknowledged the possibility of trading from this surplus to strengthen other areas of the team. Specifically, pitchers like Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman could become potential trade assets. According to Mark Feinsand, the team is likely to trade Schmidt to fill infield or outfield positions.
“The Yankees currently have seven starting pitchers: Cole, Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman.” he claimed. “It seems to set them up to deal an arm for something else. One scenario, according to sources would be for the Yankees to move one of their young starters – most likely Schmidt – as part of a trade package to land either Nolan Arenado or Cody Bellinger. Schmidt is arbitration-eligible for three more years, while Gil – the AL Rookie of the Year – has four years of club control remaining and won’t be eligible for arbitration until next offseason.”
Clarke Schmidt, under team control through the 2027 season, has shown promise, making him an attractive option for teams seeking starting pitching. His availability could help the Yankees address needs in other positions, especially after missing out on re-signing key free agents like Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, Gleyber Torres, and Anthony Rizzo.
The Yankees have also been linked to players such as Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker, indicating a strategic approach to leverage their pitching depth in potential trades to enhance the roster.
As the offseason progresses, the Yankees’ strategy appears focused on leveraging their pitching depth to build a more balanced and competitive roster for the upcoming season.
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