The Yankees made a move, but it may not be nearly enough after the Dodgers changed the deadline landscape with a late-night Tarik Skubal deal on Saturday.
New York answered with a trade for Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals, yet that kind of pickup doesn’t look like the sort of swing that can truly close the gap. The Yankees are still reportedly pursuing Adley Rutschman in talks with the Orioles, though the Red Sox could jump in and take that off the board. If Brian Cashman wants something that actually dents Los Angeles’ advantage, the Texas Rangers might be the place to call.
Texas just took a beating over the weekend against the Astros, who now sit 2.5 games ahead in the AL West. Houston has clearly found its rhythm in August, and the Rangers appear to be shifting into a buy-and-sell mode.
Reports have already linked them to moving pitchers Mackenzie Gore and Jacob Latz, along with outfielder Wyatt Langford. But there may be a bigger name in play.
How about Jacob deGrom?
The idea is simple enough: the Yankees could ask about deGrom and potentially have him included with Latz. For Texas, that would mean easing some of the financial burden through 2027 while bringing back the kind of prospects or MLB-ready talent that could help them regroup. Jon Morosi reported:
“Heard today the Rangers are willing to listen on MacKenzie Gore and Jacob Latz.
Price is high, because neither is a pending free agent, but the 5-game losing streak has nudged the Rangers into a buy-and-sell posture, as I mentioned earlier on @MLBNetwork”
deGrom is owed about $12 million for the rest of this season, then another $37 million in 2027, with a $37 million mutual option for 2028. Adding him would at least give the Yankees a way to answer what the Dodgers did with Skubal and bring their rotation picture closer to that level.
Latz is the tougher piece to land. He made his first All-Star team in 2026 and is under team control through 2030. At the same time, he’s already 30, and the Rangers just brought in reliever Chase Silseth from the Angels, who also has the same amount of control.
A deal could still make sense if the Yankees offer one of their controllable starters, such as Will Warren or Ryan Weathers, and add a couple of prospects. If Texas has really pivoted from buyer to seller after deciding it may not have enough to catch the Astros in 2026, that kind of package could be enough to get something done.
Cashman still has work to do. There are less than six hours left.
In Other News...
Yankees Deadline Push Now Hinges On One Catching Upgrade
The Yankees are still trying to make one more meaningful move before the deadline, and the most interesting part of their search has centered on catcher. They want a right-handed bat behind the plate, a sensible fit for a roster that is already being pushed toward added bullpen help and another right-handed hitter elsewhere, and they have not been shy about working the market with that kind of urgency.
Tyler Stephenson, Adley Rutschman and Ryan Jeffers have all come up as possible answers, which shows how broad the search has become and how competitive the market is likely to be. For a club intent on upgrading in more than one spot, the catching pursuit may end up shaping how the rest of the deadline unfolds, especially if the front office has to decide how far it wants to go to land the right fit. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Have A Trade Answer For Their Injury Hit Lineup
The Yankees lineup has been strained by the injuries to Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, and the front office has been doing what it can to survey a thin trade market for help. Catchers and infielders are scarce in particular, which makes the search more difficult and pushes the conversation toward whatever productive bats might actually become available before the deadline.
One name worth watching is Randy Arozarena, a player the Yankees know well enough to appreciate as a possible fit in a lineup looking for more punch. The Seattle outfielder has put together strong offensive numbers this season, and his situation could make him one of the more interesting names to track if New York decides it needs to act on the market rather than wait for reinforcements from within. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Fans Just Got A Yankees Trade Twist To Process
The Yankees are adding another wrinkle to their infield and batting-order picture, with ESPNs Jeff Passan reporting they are reportedly trading for Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. It is the kind of move that immediately invites lineup speculation because Garcia gives New York another capable left-handed bat, and any extra offense around the middle of the order tends to matter in October-minded planning.
But the fit is not as simple as just slotting in one more name and moving on. Garcias arrival adds depth, yet it also brings a real juggling act for the Yankees as they try to sort out playing time and keep the lineup balanced without creating unnecessary friction on the bench. The upside is obvious, but the next question is how New York makes all of the pieces work once everyone is actually in the mix. [Read more 🡒]