The non-tender deadline is closing in, and with it comes the chance for a few teams to find real value in a market that suddenly gets crowded. For the Reds, one of the more intriguing names to watch is Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt.
Schmidt is expected to be moved off New York’s 40-man roster, and if that happens, Cincinnati could be in position to pounce. The fit makes sense on paper: a pitcher with upside, a manageable price tag, and enough uncertainty around his recent health that he may not cost as much as his talent would normally demand.
The 30-year-old’s recent stretch has been interrupted by injuries. He made only one appearance for the Yankees in 2026 after an elbow injury in 2025 led to Tommy John surgery.
Most of last season was spent rehabbing, and he didn’t get back on the mound until late August, when he pitched for New York’s Double-A affiliate. Across five rehab outings over the final two months of the season, Schmidt threw seven innings, struck out 11, and finished with a 3.86 ERA.
Even with that limited workload, there’s still a case for why he could draw attention. When Schmidt was healthy from 2023-24, he went 14-14 over 244⅓ innings and posted a 4.02 ERA with a 4.12 FIP. He also limited walks to 2.80 BB/9 and struck out more than 23% of the hitters he faced.
That kind of profile is exactly why he should be on Cincinnati’s list. The Reds need rotation help, and they need upside. Outside of Chase Burns, the rotation was rough last season, and with Hunter Greene expected to miss the year after Tommy John surgery, the club can’t afford to be picky about possible reinforcements.
The situation got even more urgent earlier this week when Brady Singer became a free agent. There had been talk earlier in the year that Cincinnati might explore a qualifying offer for Singer, but his second-half performance in 2026 shut that down quickly.
Schmidt isn’t the only Yankees arm worth monitoring, either. Former Rookie of the Year Luis Gil is another possible non-tender candidate as the deadline approaches. For the Reds, both pitchers belong on the radar, and the pool of possible targets should only grow once the deadline passes.
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