NEW YORK — The Yankees have made modest moves this offseason. They re-signed Cody Bellinger. They brought back Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn. They traded for Ryan Weathers from Miami.
The Yankees pitching staff still needs work.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman continues searching for answers. The rotation has question marks. The bullpen lacks a dominant left-handed arm. Division rival Tampa Bay might hold the solution.
The Rays have already dealt Shane Baz to Baltimore and Josh Lowe to the Angels this winter. Their willingness to trade established pieces signals more moves could follow.
Injury concerns cloud the Yankees rotation
The Yankees rotation faces significant uncertainty entering 2026. Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery in March. Carlos Rodon had elbow surgery and will miss the early weeks. Clarke Schmidt also went under the knife for Tommy John last July.
Max Fried provides stability at the top. Rookie sensation Cam Schlittler emerged as a weapon late in 2025. Will Warren logged 162.1 innings across 33 starts with a 4.44 ERA. Luis Gil struggled after returning from a lat strain. He made just 11 starts and saw his strikeout rate plummet to 16.8 percent.
The bullpen has declined three consecutive years. Relief fWAR dropped from 4.5 in 2023 to 2.9 in 2024 to 2.8 in 2025. David Bednar will close, but the setup roles remain unclear.
Tampa Bay has pitching depth to spare
The Rays project to have Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Shane McClanahan, Steven Matz and others competing for rotation spots. That surplus creates trade flexibility.
Rasmussen made his first All-Star team in 2025 after an incredible comeback. He posted a 2.76 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP across 31 starts. He struck out 127 batters while holding opponents to a .216 average.
The 30-year-old signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal in January 2025. He has one year remaining at a team-friendly price. His cutter generates a 27.5 percent whiff rate.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Rasmussen after his All-Star selection.
“He deserves it, man,” Cash said. “The way he’s performed, obviously, this first half. But there is a backstory for the type of teammate he is, the type of work ethic, and mentality that he’s shown to withstand and come back from some of these injuries.”
Yankees-Rays deal could reshape both rosters
A potential trade would send Drew Rasmussen and left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger to New York. Tampa Bay would receive outfielder Jasson Dominguez and either Will Warren or Luis Gil in return.
The deal addresses clear needs for both clubs. The Yankees acquire a proven starter and a power arm for the bullpen. The Rays land a young outfielder with star potential and a controllable starting pitcher.
Cleavinger posted career-best numbers in 2025. The 31-year-old recorded a 2.35 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 61.1 innings. His 33 percent strikeout rate ranked among the best for MLB relievers. His fastball averaged 96.5 mph.
The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner reported that the Yankees have shown interest in Cleavinger.
“The Yankees have had previous interest in him, and Cleavinger’s 33 percent strikeout percentage would give New York another pitcher who could miss bats,” Kirschner wrote.
What New York Yankees would surrender
Dominguez represents the Yankees marquee piece heading to Tampa Bay. The 22-year-old outfielder flashed tantalizing power in 2025. He hit three home runs in one game against Oakland last May, becoming the youngest Yankee to accomplish that feat.
But his overall numbers disappointed the Yankees. Dominguez batted just .257 with a .331 on-base percentage in 429 plate appearances. He struggled defensively in left field with minus-10 Outs Above Average. His performance from the right side of the plate was particularly concerning at just .204 against left-handed pitching.
One scenario discussed by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch involves moving either Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones, two young Yankees outfielders who currently lack a defined everyday role on the major league roster, in exchange for relief pitching.
ESPN’s Jorge Castillo has echoed that possibility specifically regarding Domínguez, suggesting the Yankees’ switch-hitter could be dealt before spring training begins.
Warren finished with 171 strikeouts in his rookie campaign. He led all MLB rookies in punchouts, starts and innings pitched. Gil won the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year before his injury-shortened 2025 season. Both pitchers remain under team control through 2030.
The Rays rebuild their outfield
Tampa Bay went 77-85 in 2025 and missed the postseason for the second straight year. Their outfield struggled offensively all season. They traded both Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe this offseason.
Dominguez would give them an exciting young outfielder with five years of team control. His switch-hitting ability and power potential fit the Rays’ developmental profile perfectly.
Adding Warren or Gil provides cost-controlled rotation depth through 2030. The Rays have proven adept at maximizing pitching talent. They could help either arm reach their ceiling.
Tampa Bay typically operates with a payroll around $80 million. Acquiring young, controllable talent aligns with their financial constraints and long-term vision.
Rasmussen’s remarkable journey back
Rasmussen has overcome tremendous adversity in his career. He underwent Tommy John surgery twice during his time at Oregon State. He had an internal brace procedure in July 2023 after a flexor strain.
According to Jon Roegele’s Tommy John surgery database, Rasmussen is one of nine pitchers to return from three major reconstructive elbow surgeries. He is the only one to make an All-Star team after his third procedure.
Rasmussen reflected on his selection to the Midsummer Classic.
“I don’t think it’s anything I ever expected out of my career or anything,” Rasmussen said. “It’s definitely more than I could have possibly dreamt for. Just being here and getting the opportunity to play, day in and day out, that was always the dream.”
Division dynamics complicate negotiations
Trading within the division always carries risk. The Yankees and Rays will face each other 19 times in 2026. Sending a potential star like Dominguez to a rival could backfire.
But Tampa Bay has shown willingness to deal with division opponents. They sent Shane Baz to Baltimore this offseason. When the price is right, they pull the trigger.
The AL East remains baseball’s toughest division. The Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract. The Orioles added Pete Alonso. The Red Sox brought in Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray.
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander recently spoke about balancing present and future concerns.
“We’re always trying to make sure that our future is bright, and you’ve got to start with having a deep system of a lot of really talented players. We feel like we have that,” Neander said. “And then you just can’t totally overlook the season in front of you.”
Spring training opens in less than a month. Time is running short for both the Yankees and Rays to finalize their rosters. A deal that sends proven pitching to the Bronx while building Tampa Bay’s future could benefit everyone involved.
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