The New York Yankees were dealt a tough blow in spring training when they lost Gerrit Cole for the season due to Tommy John surgery. To make matters worse, they also lost Luis Gil to an injury, and his timeline is still uncertain.
At the trade deadline, the Yankees may need to add an arm or two to their rotation.
Starting pitching is always in high demand at the deadline, so the Yankees will be in a competition to land an arm.
Kristie Ackert of Athlon Sports proposed the idea of New York making a play for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell.
“They’re already testing the limits of their rotation depth, and while Marcus Stroman may return soon, the club can’t afford to lean solely on hope. Littell wouldn’t cost top-tier prospects and could offer exactly what New York needs: stability, innings, and familiarity,” Ackert wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Littell has put together a strong season for the Rays. He’s 6-5 in 13 starts with a 3.68 ERA.
Littell is also a former Yankee farmhand, having been acquired from the Seattle Mariners in 2016 and later being flipped to the Minnesota Twins the following year for left-hander Jaime Garcia.
The Rays are chasing the Yankees in the AL East, but they typically like to make moves in both directions at the trade deadline.
New York needs to plug a hole, as it remains to be seen when Gil will be back. They obviously aren’t going to get Cole back until some point in 2026.
Littell is in the final year of his contract, so it would make sense for the Rays to trade him. But he would also give the Yankees exactly what they need down the stretch.
We’ll see if New York gives the Rays a call about the veteran right-hander.
More MLB: Yankees-Pirates blockbuster trade pitch brings 2-time All-Star pitcher to New York
