The Yankees are heading toward the 2026 trade deadline in familiar territory: looking to buy. With New York locked in a fight with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East and trying to keep the Boston Red Sox from closing in, the front office has reasons to be aggressive. The injury list only sharpens that urgency, with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo among those sidelined as the club searches for help over the final months.
That need could push the Yankees in a few different directions. They have more obvious offensive problems, but they’re still the kind of team that can chase almost anyone if the price and fit line up. That means New York could be in the mix for headline names, but also for players who don’t grab the same attention and still change the shape of a roster.
One of the biggest swings on the board is Tarik Skubal. The Tigers left-hander is viewed as potentially the best player available, and that alone makes him a name to watch. Even with a rotation that already includes Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Gerrit Cole, Skubal would deepen the group enough to give New York another path for the bullpen, potentially shifting a starter into relief instead of spending the deadline chasing a reliever outright.
Behind the plate, Ryan Jeffers has been tied to the Yankees for a while, and the fit is easy to see. Austin Wells has struggled badly, with an OPS stuck in the .500s, and New York’s offense has been short on impact. Jeffers would bring a veteran bat to the middle of the lineup and could cut into Wells’ playing time if the Yankees decide they need a more reliable option.
Hunter Goodman is another catcher who could be available, and his appeal is tied to power. He’s under control through 2029 and gives teams a right-handed bat with real pop, even if the defense doesn’t stand out.
For the Yankees, that kind of profile matters, especially with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined and the club able to use Goodman at DH at times. The strikeouts won’t scare New York off if the home runs are there.
The bullpen market offers two more obvious fits. Mason Miller has been linked to the Yankees as a way to upgrade not just for this season, but for the seasons beyond it.
He’s described as the best closer in baseball, and pairing him with David Bednar would give New York a dominant late-game combination, even with Bednar headed for free agency after the season. The Yankees and Padres have worked together before, which could matter when talks get serious.
Luke Weaver is another reliever on the list, and his path back to New York would be a notable one. He signed with the Mets in the offseason and has been excellent, putting himself among the top bullpen arms available.
Weaver was a key piece of the Yankees’ 2024 AL championship team and eventually closed games for them by the time the 2024 World Series arrived. He would cost a strong package, but he also looks like one of the safer bullpen bets on the market.
The Yankees could also use help on the left side of the infield, which is where Casey Schmitt comes in. The Giants third baseman has been one of the few bright spots for San Francisco, and his value is tied in part to the scarcity of right-handed bats.
That shortage lines up with New York’s current need, especially with Judge and Stanton injured. Schmitt’s defensive versatility would only add to the appeal as the Yankees wait for players to get healthy.
Zach Neto is the final name in the mix, giving New York another possible route if it wants to keep searching for offense and flexibility.
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