The New York Yankees’ need for a starting pitcher at the trade deadline is pressing and obvious.
The one-two punch of Max Fried and Carlos Rodon has kept the Yankees above the fray in the languishing American League East. But if the Boston Red Sox or Toronto Blue Jays can sustain a winning streak at any point, New York’s first-place status will be in jeopardy.
It’s clear, though, that the Yankees have the most World Series potential in this division. Their stars are performing at an incredibly high level, and another starting pitcher would shore up an obvious weakness.
With that in mind, one baseball insider believes the Yankees are a strong fit for an ace who could be available if his team decides to pull the plug on the 2025 season.
On Monday, ESPN’s Buster Olney opined that the Milwaukee Brewers could be surprise trade deadline sellers, and mentioned the Yankees as a top fit to land ace Freddy Peralta, who is under team control for 1 1/2 more seasons.
“Freddy Peralta has been one of the league’s best starters this year, and he’s earning a very affordable $8 million this year, with Milwaukee holding an $8 million option for next season,” Olney wrote.
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“For the Yankees, he could be a bedrock behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodon. If Peralta stays healthy, his value will never be higher than it is now.”
The 29-year-old Peralta has been fantastic this season, setting himself up to be the prize of the deadline if Milwaukee does make the controversial decision to sell. The 2021 All-Star has a 2.18 ERA and 48 strikeouts through eight starts and 45 1/3 innings.
Peralta is projected for a five-year, $110 million contract by Spotrac if and when he hits free agency. But the Yankees could choose to either work out an extension with him before then or simply be content to play out the next year and a half with another star locked into their rotation.
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