The New York Yankees are struggling to stay healthy, a challenge that has plagued the organization in recent years. The injuries to their starting rotation are especially concerning. Gerrit Cole is out for the season, Luis Gil will be sidelined for a while, and there are additional injury issues.
For the Yankees, there’s no reason to wait any longer to trade for another pitcher. Ownership may be vocal about the payroll, but the team desperately needs pitching. Why maintain such an expensive payroll only to let the season slip away?
While the available options aren’t as plentiful as they were a few weeks ago, the Yankees could still get creative. One potential target? Erick Fedde, a name that MLB insider Robert Murray of FanSided mentioned.
“On the trade market, rival executives acknowledge the options are limited. The Padres, for example, have been open to trade talks for right-hander Dylan Cease, but team officials have made it clear that they plan to enter Opening Day with both Cease and Michael King, effectively removing them from the trade conversation.
“One option could be Erick Fedde from the St. Louis Cardinals. Fedde showed promise with the Chicago White Sox last season, making him a sought-after name on the trade market. However, he struggled after being traded to the Cardinals. With St. Louis looking to reduce salary and provide opportunities for younger players, Fedde could be a fit for the Yankees,” Murray wrote.
Why Haven’t the Yankees Made a Move Yet?
The Yankees are hesitant to spend much more money. If they move on from Marcus Stroman, they would free up some payroll, but for now, Stroman is needed. While fans may have doubts about his performance, it’s somewhat unfair, considering he’s been an above-average pitcher for most of his career. Still, there are better options.
Fedde could be one of those options, and he’s relatively affordable, with a $7.5 million salary for 2025. However, according to Murray, the Yankees’ “most likely option” will be to either give an internal candidate a shot or make a minor move, such as a small trade or signing a player who opts out of their non-roster contract with another team.
Erick Fedde gets first Cardinals win in home debutErick Fedde
More Injury Concerns for the Yankees
Now, the Yankees are also facing the potential loss of Clarke Schmidt. Schmidt, a right-handed starter, was scratched from his Spring Training start on March 17 due to shoulder soreness.
“With the injuries we’ve had, it’s not something we want to push,” Aaron Boone said, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “He’s just not bouncing back as well as he hoped.”
Given the number of injuries the Yankees have already faced, they’re likely playing it safe with Schmidt. However, shoulder injuries are never ideal, especially with the season opener approaching on March 27. The Yankees can’t afford to lose any more pitchers.
“We’ve taken a number of hits in the starting rotation,” general manager Brian Cashman said last week. “We certainly can’t afford to take too many more.”