The New York Yankees wrapped up Memorial Day with the second-best record in the American League and held a strong six-game lead in the AL East. Despite their success in the standings, their starting rotation remains a pressing issue.
Before the season began, star pitcher Gerrit Cole was sidelined with a season-ending Tommy John surgery. They also lost last year’s Rookie of the Year, Luis Gil, to a lat injury that will keep him out until at least mid-summer. The rotation has been led by offseason acquisition Max Fried—who’s arguably been the top pitcher in MLB this year—and Carlos Rodon. Beyond those two, the depth has faltered: Will Warren holds a 4.09 ERA over 50.2 innings (11 starts), Clarke Schmidt has a 4.58 ERA in 37.1 innings (7 starts), and Marcus Stroman posted an 11.57 ERA in three starts before landing on the injured list.
In light of these issues, MLB Network analyst and former GM Dan O’Dowd suggested three potential trades he’d like to see, one of which involves the Yankees making a bold move for Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez. “These two clubs rarely trade with each other, so this likely won’t happen,” O’Dowd admitted. “But Valdez would be a great fit—he’s a strike-thrower with a heavy sinker who complements Fried and Rodon well. I believe the Yankees need another reliable starter.”
Valdez is having another stellar season, posting a 3.39 ERA over 69 innings in 11 starts. Last year, he went 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA across 176.1 innings. Over his eight-year MLB career, he’s maintained a 3.31 ERA, earned two All-Star nods, and received Cy Young votes in four seasons.
While Valdez would be an ideal addition to solidify the Yankees’ rotation, the likelihood of the Astros dealing him to a potential postseason opponent remains slim.
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