The New York Yankees can’t keep pitchers healthy and their rotation is turning into a nightmare. So while Arizona Diamondback Zac Gallen was striking out 13 of their hitters in the first week of the season, the Yankees’ front office had to have been imagining what could be.
The Yankees’ rotation has already lost Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil to long-term injuries. Marcus Stroman left his last start with a knee issue. Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco have ERAs over 6.00. The cracks are showing, and it’s only April.
The Yankees need to go out and trade for a front-of-the-rotation starter if they to keep their contention hopes alive. The Diamondbacks ace is set to hit free agency after the season, and according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, he could become a trade chip if Arizona falls out of contention. That’s not too far-fetched in an NL West loaded with heavyweights, including the Dodgers, Padres and Giants.
Gallen grew up in the Philadelphia area and reportedly loves life back East. And with Corbin Burnes already on a $210 million deal, the D-backs may not be able to keep both.
The Yankees won’t be the only team interested. But if Gallen hits the trade block, few contenders will have a bigger need, a more desperate rotation or the will to go out and get the deal done.
This also comes with the caveat that those 13 Yankees batters Gallen fanned? Well, that was his best start this season by far.
Gallen has made three starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In these appearances, he has a 1–2 win-loss record with a 5.28 ERA over 15.1 innings pitched, accumulating 19 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.43.
Still, with a championship window closing as Aaron Judge gets older, the Yankees have a better chance with Gallen than Carlos Carrasco.
