The Yankees' hopes of adding Tarik Skubal to their rotation ended before they ever really got going. On Saturday night, the Detroit Tigers agreed to send the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Skubal hits free agency this winter and is expected to command a deal that tops Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 million contract. So, it's no shock Detroit finally cashed in.

But it does mean New York is out of the Skubal business for good. That was never really New York's fight to win in the first place.

GM Brian Cashman has treated the rotation as a position of strength all year. And with Max Fried back from his elbow injury and Carlos Rodón progressing toward his return, the front office had less urgency to chase baseball's most expensive rental than teams like the Cubs or Braves did.

Still, if the Yankees want some rotation insurance for October, a handful of realistic names are still out there.

Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins tops the list. Ryan has been very good this season with a 3.52 ERA, 135 strikeouts, and a 1.11 WHIP. He also comes with a realistic deal: a one-year contract that guarantees $6.2 million, with a mutual option for 2027.

He would give the Yankees a steady starter. And if the Yankees later want to move someone like Will Warren or Ryan Weathers into relief work, Ryan would help cover the innings.

Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels is another realistic pick. He is a former No. 1 pick and is currently posting a 4.03 ERA, 145 strikeouts, and a 1.10 WHIP. He is also much cheaper, at about $2.63 million this year, and he is under control through 2029, per a Forbes report.

Colorado Rockies' Kyle Freeland has had a rough year, posting a 7.34 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and a 1.55 WHIP across 19 starts. But his presence can give the Yankees a veteran left-handed option. He is in the final guaranteed year of a five-year, $64 million deal.

None of these three will move the needle as Skubal did. But each represents a different value if the Yankees decide to add rotation or bullpen depth before the deadline.

The Yankees still need bats more than a starting pitcher

Even after Skubal came off the board, the bigger need in New York is still a catcher who can hit right-handed. Austin Wells has had one of the roughest offensive seasons of any regular catcher in baseball.

Ryan Jeffers and Hunter Goodman were the top names at that position before the deadline. But it'll be a surprise if the Rockies trade Goodman, given his age (26) and that he's still eligible for salary arbitration starting in 2027.

The Yankees also need a right-handed bat for the outfield. Aaron Judge hasn't played since May 31 because of injury. Cody Bellinger landed on the injured list with a hamstring strain last month. And Giancarlo Stanton's return has been pushed back repeatedly. It left the lineup with a thin offense, especially from the outfield.

And beyond all that, the Yankees need bullpen arms after sending struggling Camilo Doval to Pittsburgh.

Read more at the New York Yankees Community!

Written by

Md Saife Fida