The New York Yankees’ starting rotation has been a surprising bright spot in the 2025 season, despite a relentless wave of injuries. With their No. 1 starter sidelined for the entire year due to Tommy John surgery and a string of other setbacks, the Yankees’ pitchers have still managed a stellar 3.49 ERA, good for fourth-best in Major League Baseball. The backbone of this resilience? Left-handers Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, who have each made a league-leading 16 starts with ERAs of 2.05 and 3.10, respectively.
However, the injury bug struck again on Sunday, with No. 5 starter Ryan Yarbrough landing on the injured list due to a right oblique strain. This forced the Yankees to call up Allan Winans, a career minor leaguer who became the team’s eighth starter in just 78 games this season. With 84 games left to play and a postseason push on the horizon, the Yankees’ rotation is in desperate need of stability—and general manager Brian Cashman is poised to deliver.
A Trade Deadline Blockbuster in the Making
As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, Cashman is reportedly eyeing a transformative addition to the Yankees’ rotation: Miami Marlins’ 27-year-old right-hander Edward Cabrera. According to The Athletic, Cabrera ranks 12th on their MLB Trade Deadline Big Board, which lists the top 30 trade candidates. Described as possessing “the best stuff of any starting pitcher thought to be on the market,” Cabrera is a tantalizing target for a Yankees team hungry to return to the World Series after last year’s appearance.
Cabrera, who boasts a 4.23 ERA over 73 career starts, is under team control through 2028 and is currently signed to a modest one-year, $2 million contract. His recent improvements—lowering his arm slot, adding a sinker, and favoring a curve over a slider—have led to the best stretch of command in his career. These tweaks have made him an attractive, high-upside option for contenders like the Yankees, who see him as a potential anchor alongside Fried, Rodón, and Luis Gil for years to come.
Why Cabrera Fits the Yankees’ Needs
The Marlins, mired in the National League East basement with a 31-45 record, are once again poised to be sellers at the deadline. Sitting 11 games out of a playoff spot and 15 games behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies, Miami has little reason to hold onto Cabrera unless they believe their competitive window will open before his team control expires. For the Yankees, this presents a golden opportunity to acquire a pitcher with durability, elite stuff, and long-term value at a bargain price.
Pinstripes Nation columnist Sara Molnick argues that Cabrera’s combination of talent and affordability makes him a must-have for New York. “Team control through 2028 makes Cabrera extremely valuable beyond this season,” Molnick wrote. “He could anchor the Yankees rotation alongside Gil, Fried, and Rodón for years. Few available pitchers offer similar upside and longevity.”
The Cost of Acquiring Cabrera
The Marlins, however, are not likely to let Cabrera go cheaply. Molnick suggests that Miami will demand “premium prospects” in return, potentially forcing Cashman to part with prized assets like No. 1 prospect George Lombard or former top prospect Jasson Dominguez, who has already reached the majors. Historically, Cashman has been reluctant to trade such high-value prospects, but the allure of Cabrera’s upside and the Yankees’ urgent need for rotation stability may change his calculus.
The Yankees’ storied history of bold moves supports the idea that they’re willing to pay a steep price for immediate impact. From George Steinbrenner’s groundbreaking signing of Jim “Catfish” Hunter in 1975 for a then-record $3.25 million over five years to their modern-day spending sprees, the Yankees have never shied away from investing heavily in talent. With Cabrera’s contract representing a mere $2 million commitment for 2025, the financial risk is minimal compared to the potential reward—a strengthened rotation capable of carrying the team through October and beyond.
A World Series Push Worth the Price?
The question now is whether the Yankees are willing to mortgage part of their future for a pitcher who could solidify their rotation and boost their chances of a second consecutive World Series appearance. With 84 games remaining in the regular season and a postseason gauntlet awaiting, the injury-riddled rotation needs reinforcement to maintain its elite performance. Cabrera’s youth, durability, and electric arsenal make him a perfect fit for a team with championship aspirations.
As The Athletic noted, Cabrera’s recent improvements and “best stuff” on the trade market make him a hot commodity. If Cashman can pull off this deal, the Yankees could secure a cornerstone pitcher for years to come at a fraction of the cost of a typical blockbuster acquisition. For a franchise accustomed to making history, landing Cabrera for just $2 million could be the steal of the 2025 trade deadline—and a move that blows away MLB rumors with its sheer audacity.