The New York Yankees wrapped up their West Coast road trip with a hard-fought victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the series exposed glaring weaknesses in their starting rotation. A particularly rough outing from young pitcher Will Warren, who surrendered seven earned runs in less than two innings, has sparked fresh concerns about the team’s pitching depth. With Luis Gil and Marcus Stroman still navigating uncertain recoveries from injuries, the Yankees face mounting pressure to bolster their rotation before the trade deadline if they aim to compete with the Dodgers in a potential World Series rematch.
Acquiring a true ace at the trade deadline is a tall order, but the Yankees are expected to pursue a high-upside right-hander to stabilize their rotation. According to FanSided’s Adam Weinrib, one name stands out as a potential target: Texas Rangers ace and former New York Mets star Jacob deGrom. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, now 36, is enjoying a resurgent season in the third year of his $185 million contract with the Rangers. Boasting a stellar 2.34 ERA and 66 strikeouts across 12 starts, deGrom has reestablished himself as one of baseball’s elite pitchers after years of battling injuries.
Weinrib pointed to a telling moment during a Rangers visit to Yankee Stadium, where deGrom and Yankees captain Aaron Judge locked eyes, with deGrom flashing a knowing smirk. That subtle exchange has fueled speculation about deGrom’s interest in a potential move to the Bronx. “He turns 37 years old in mid-June,” Weinrib noted. “Do the Rangers believe in absorbing his age-38 and 39 seasons? Shouldn’t it be easier for the Yankees to stomach them, now that Soto and his .220 average aren’t clogging their books?”
The Rangers, mired in third place in the American League West with a losing record, may consider selling at the trade deadline. Offloading deGrom’s remaining salary could be a strategic move for Texas, making him an attractive, albeit expensive, option for contenders like the Yankees. A trade for deGrom would not only address New York’s rotation woes but also send shockwaves through the city, given his history as a Mets icon.
Landing deGrom would be a bold move for the Yankees, signaling their all-in approach to chasing a championship. However, the challenge of securing a pitcher of his caliber—while navigating his age, injury history, and hefty contract—looms large. If Aaron Judge’s exchange with deGrom is any indication, the Yankees may be ready to take on that challenge in their quest to return to World Series glory.