Replacing a pitcher like Gerrit Cole is no easy task. The New York Yankees ace has been a model of consistency, delivering Cy Young-caliber performances for years. That’s why the team secured him on a new contract after he opted out of his previous deal this offseason. However, with Cole undergoing Tommy John surgery, he is expected to miss the entire 2025 season and possibly part of 2026, leaving a major hole in the Yankees’ starting rotation.
New York, coming off an American League pennant win, still has championship aspirations despite being hit hard by injuries this spring. The loss of Cole, coupled with the absence of reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil until midseason due to a lat strain, has heightened the team’s urgency to reinforce its pitching staff.
Yankees Targeting Two Star Pitchers
The Yankees have been linked to two top pitchers—Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara and San Diego Padres right-hander Dylan Cease—as potential trade targets.
According to Bleacher Report, New York is considered the frontrunner to trade for Alcantara, a two-time All-Star and 2022 Cy Young winner who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery. In his spring training outings, he has shown promise, pitching 8.1 innings with eight strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP.
“You can’t lose Gerrit Cole for the year because of Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil for three months because of a lat strain and act like everything is OK,” Zachary Rymer wrote. “As Eno Sarris covered for The Athletic, those two injuries have reduced New York’s rotation from one of MLB’s best to one of its worst.”
Rymer suggests that a potential trade package for Alcantara could include
Will Warren, outfielder Spencer Jones (the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect), and shortstop George Lombard Jr. (No. 4 prospect).
Meanwhile, the Yankees have also reached out to the Padres about Cease, per the New York Post. Cease, a fourth-place finisher in last year’s NL Cy Young race, posted a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA, 224 strikeouts, and 65 walks over 33 starts. Before joining San Diego, he spent five seasons with the Chicago White Sox, with his best season coming in 2022 when he recorded a 2.20 ERA and finished second in AL Cy Young voting.
Trade Challenges and Yankees’ Urgency
Acquiring either pitcher won’t be cheap. The Padres reportedly want a significant offensive upgrade in exchange for Cease, which complicates matters given the Yankees’ current injuries to Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu. As for Alcantara, his contract—$17.3 million annually for the next two seasons with a $21 million club option for 2027—makes him a long-term investment rather than just a short-term fix.
Still, the Yankees recognize the need to make a big move.
“Ultimately, no team has as much of an incentive to swing big as these Yankees,” Rymer stated. “After coming three wins shy of a World Series title in 2024, they’re in danger of falling much shorter this year if they don’t connect on such a swing.”
While pulling off a trade without weakening their offense will be a challenge, New York’s front office knows that standing pat isn’t an option if they hope to compete for a championship this season.
