5 early trade deadline rotation targets Yankees must watch after Freddy Peralta whiff

The New York Mets blew the New York Yankees out of the water with the price they paid to acquire Freddy Peralta. The Yankees were also linked to MacKenzie Gore, but watched him head to the Texas Rangers in what was a massive haul for the Washington Nationals.

If it wasn't clear before, it should be now: Ryan Weathers was the start and end of the external additions to the starting rotation this offseason.

New York will instead take a wait-and-see approach, evaluating how Carlos Rodón and, more importantly, Gerrit Cole, look when the duo return from the IL. If things go awry, the trade deadline will be when the Yankees make their splash for a starter. Some early targets stand out.

5 early trade deadline starting pitching targets after the Yankees miss out on Freddy Peralta and MacKenzie Gore

Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara

The Yankees have long been linked to Sandy Alcantara, and seem to have a fixation on Miami Marlins starters recently. They were in on Edward Cabrera, landed Ryan Weathers, and may have even inquired about Eury Perez.

The 2022 NL Cy Young winner is a prime candidate to get moved as he's in the final year of his contract, making $17.3 million (and also carries a $21 million club option for 2027 that Miami would surely decline). However, he struggled mightily for much of 2025, making it unlikely he moves until (unless?) he returns to form in 2026.

There were already signs that he's on the path. After missing all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery, the 30-year-old posted a ghastly 7.22 ERA in 91 first-half innings, but improved greatly in the second half, turning in a 3.33 ERA over 83 2/3 frames.

Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan

Earlier in the offseason, it appeared that Joe Ryan would be among the top starters on the trade block this winter. However, Twins boss Derek Falvey came out and dispelled those rumors, claiming the team was looking to build after undergoing a trade deadline fire sale.

Minnesota's actions haven't quite lived up to their words, as the only moves they've made have been marginal ones. Meanwhile, their financial issues are well known, and they've gone on to squabble with Ryan over $500K, sending the parties to an arbitration hearing. Ryan is under team control for 2027 as well, but the relationship may already be damaged.

Another Twins starter in Pablo Lopez

While there's a world where Ryan stays in the Twin Cities, it certainly feels like his rotation mate Pablo Lopez is a goner. Entering his age-30 season, the righty has two years remaining on his contract at $21.75 million apiece. That's a hefty price for a small-market club like the Twins.

Lopez was limited to 14 starts due to a variety of injuries last season, but neither was severe, and he was dominant, posting a 2.74 ERA when he could take the mound. From 2022-2024, Lopez was a workhorse, tallying 559 1/3 innings, the seventh-most in the majors, and posting a 3.81 ERA. He might not be a true ace, but he's a solid No. 2 who should put the health concerns behind him.

Cincinnati Reds innings-eater Brady Singer

Brady Singer isn't the top-end performer that the other three guys on the list can be, but he's a reliable mid-rotation arm who can eat innings and post around a 4.00 ERA. If the Yankees want to set their sights lower, based on whatever the circumstances are in July, he could make a lot of sense.

Trade rumors have dogged Singer all winter, but the Reds will probably get more value for him at the deadline. His expiring contract will have more value then, and it will allow them time to evaluate top prospects Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Petty in a low-stakes environment before making a move.

Whether Cincinnati is competitive or not, he's almost a guarantee to be dealt in July. If the Reds are in the playoff race, he might be their best chip to get an offensive boost. If they fall out, they'll want to recoup value for a player they won't re-sign anyway. He'd come cheaper for the Yankees than the other options, for whatever that's worth.

The ultimate prize, Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal

This one goes without saying. The Tigers have not officially closed the door on trading Tarik Skubal, and their arbitration showdown, sparked by Skubal's record-setting $32 million salary request, makes the relationship seem rockier than ever.

The AL Central doesn't have any one team that has pulled apart from the pack, and if Detroit struggles then the pressure will be at an all-time high to recoup something for the game's best lefty rather than watch him walk away for nothing. The chances the Yankees actually jump into the fray seem slim, but you can never say never, and they might feel as if they're forced to make an earth-shattering move depending on how their season plays out. This would qualify.