The New York Yankees’ starting rotation, initially anchored by ace Gerrit Cole, has found its groove in recent weeks, even after significant changes. The team designated Carlos Carrasco for assignment and lost Marcus Stroman to injury, but the emergence of Will Warren, alongside the devastating duo of Carlos Rodón and Max Fried, has kept the unit humming. Clarke Schmidt’s steady improvement and Ryan Yarbrough’s throwback brilliance have further solidified the group. While Luis Gil’s potential return remains on hold as his throwing program progresses slowly, the Yankees’ rotation is performing admirably. Still, Rodón and Fried could use a right-handed co-ace to round out the staff, and the trade deadline looms as the perfect opportunity to address that need.
Enter Nathan Eovaldi, who made a compelling case for himself in Thursday’s series finale against the Yankees. The Texas Rangers’ right-hander, a former Yankee in 2015-16, delivered a masterful performance, shutting down New York’s lineup in a 1-0 Rangers victory. Eovaldi’s outing marked his sixth consecutive start allowing one earned run or fewer, showcasing the high-octane fastball and pinpoint control that have defined his resurgence since his 2018 Tommy John recovery with the Boston Red Sox. The Alvin, Texas native, who re-signed with the Rangers this past offseason, looked every bit like the pitcher the Yankees desperately need to complement their lefty-heavy rotation.
The Rangers, however, present a complex trade partner. Despite their rotation’s strength, their offense has been stuck in neutral, so lackluster that it indirectly led to Aaron Boone’s brother, Bret, joining their coaching staff. If Texas continues to struggle at the plate as the trade deadline approaches, they might consider moving Eovaldi, whose contract carries a $25 million annual price tag for the next two years. For the Yankees, absorbing that financial burden could be feasible, but prying Eovaldi away won’t be cheap. The Rangers aren’t short on pitching prospects—four of their top 10 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, are power right-handers, including the highly regarded Jack Leiter. The Yankees, flush with pitching depth from last year’s draft and the acquisition of Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz in the Carlos Narvaez trade, might need to get creative.
New York’s prospect pool is deep in pitching but thinner on offensive talent, which could complicate negotiations. The Rangers might be intrigued by left-handed pitching variance, such as Yankees prospects Brock Selvidge or Griffin Herring, to diversify their righty-heavy system. However, to land Eovaldi, the Yankees would likely need to build a package around a high-upside position player like Spencer Jones or Everson Pereira, paired with a left-handed pitcher. Even then, it’s unclear if that would be enough to convince Texas to part with a pitcher they’ve repeatedly invested in.
Eovaldi, at 35, isn’t without risks. His strikeout rate remains lower than his electric stuff suggests it should be, and the next two seasons could bring age-related decline. Yet, his recent dominance—underscored by his gem against the Yankees—makes him the ideal right-handed complement to Rodón and Fried. Acquiring him won’t be easy, but Eovaldi’s performance was a loud reminder of why he’s the Yankees’ dream trade deadline target.