The New York Yankees faced major setbacks even before the season began. Gerrit Cole had Tommy John surgery, and Luis Gil landed on the injured list with a lat strain that might sideline him until mid-July.
The Yankees appear unwilling to give Marcus Stroman another opportunity and have already taken Carlos Carrasco out of the rotation. Jim Riley of BALLCAP Sports has predicted that the team might trade for Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers.
“The idea behind signing Max Fried was to pair a dominant lefty with a top right-hander at the front of the rotation—two aces to lead a World Series run,” Riley said. “If the Yankees face the Dodgers again in the Fall Classic, they’ll need a rotation that can match up with L.A.’s starters. As things stand, New York’s rotation isn’t up to that challenge. That’s why they need to keep reinforcing it—Freddy Peralta could be the missing piece.”
Riley also identified the Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres as potential contenders for Freddy Peralta. However, he pointed out that the Yankees’ strong farm system might make them especially appealing to the Brewers.
Peralta has an $8 million team option for next year, but he’s expected to command a five-year, $110 million contract if he hits free agency. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2021—when he was also named an All-Star—he’s posted a 3.40 ERA. He’s performing at an All-Star level again this season and could be a key asset for the Yankees in a potential playoff run.
With a 2.55 ERA this season and a strong track record of durability—logging over 30 starts in each of the past two years—he’s been a dependable presence on the mound. If Brian Cashman hopes to return the Yankees to the World Series, he’ll need to take an aggressive approach.
