Three Yankees Trade Ideas After Clarke Schmidt News

The hits keep coming for the tailspinning Yankees, who announced that starter Clarke Schmidt would need Tommy John surgery after being removed from his start Thursday with forearm tightness.

The news comes after the Yankees dropped the opening game of a three game Subway Series with the Mets to push their losing streak to five.

They now sit at a tie for second place in the AL East, and their June swoon has hit a new low.

Here are three trades the Yankees could make in the coming weeks to address their woes at pitching.

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1. Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller

Yankees get: RHP Mitch Keller, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Pirates get: INF Oswald Peraza, RHP Chase Hampton (No. 7)

Keller’s price may never be lower than now, as at face value, his 3-10 record and 3.64 ERA leaves a lot to be desired. Before this year, however, Keller threw 159 or more innings in each of the last three seasons and appears on track to do so again.

The Yankees need inning-eaters, as Marcus Stroman and Will Warren don’t exactly inspire confidence with their length. Throwing IKF into the deal would give the Yankees a versatile contact hitter and speedster who is familiar with the system.

2. Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara

Yankees get: RHP Sandy Alcantara

Marlins get: LHP Brock Selvidge (No. 8), RHP Cade Smith (No. 14)

Like Keller, Alcantara’s price may never be lower, although as the Marlins may choose to hold onto the 2022 National League Cy Young as he continues to downfall to a season ERA above seven. 

The Marlins are interested in obtaining plus value prospects for Sandy, who returned at the start of the year from Tommy John surgery. His unsightly numbers don’t reflect well for the Yankees, but this deal takes two prospects who wouldn’t be available until 2026 and gives the Yankees another plus arm.

3. Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs

Yankees get: LHP Jeffrey Springs, OF Miguel Andujar

Athletics get: INF Jorbit Vivas (No. 19), RHP Clayton Beeter (No. 20), cash considerations

The A’s traded for Rays pitcher Jeffrey Springs, who the Yankees were very familiar with during his time as a division foe. Springs is working with a 4.07 ERA, but take away his May 30th start against the Blue Jays and he has a 2.73 ERA in nine starts dating back to May 13.

These include quality starts against the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, Royals and Guardians. Add the familiar Andujar into the mix, who is capable of playing third base (although at a worse defensive clip than Jazz Chisholm Jr) and this could be a decent deal for the Yankees.

At the same time, pickings are fairly slim around the league and the Yankees can’t willingly float guys like George Lombard Jr and Spencer Jones if the haul isn’t going to be significant. 

About the author

Zach Kaplan

Sports Writer, Athlon Sports

Zach Kaplan is a New York City-based sports journalist with experience at Jomboy Media, Parade, and the collegiate newspapers of Boston University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.