With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt each starting the season on the injured list, the New York Yankees could use another arm for their starting rotation.
Internal options include Ryan Yarbrough and Elmer Rodriguez, but the latter has never made a Major League appearance. The Yankees could use more stability until their All-Star starters return.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicts New York will sign an eight-year veteran who spent the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds.
Yankees could turn to Zack Littell if trade talks for Edward Cabrera fail
Right-hander Zack Littell is a free agent after posting a 3.81 ERA in 32 starts, split between the Rays and Reds last season. He converted to a full-time starter in 2024, but could help in the Yankees' bullpen.
"Zack Littell has ample experience pitching as both a starter and a reliever, and he could slot into the rotation to start the year before potentially shifting into a multi-inning relief role alongside Ryan Yarbrough," Reuter wrote.
The Miami Marlins' Edward Cabrera is rumored to have widespread interest from clubs across the league, with the Yankees among the teams interested in the right-hander from the Dominican Republic.
If the Yankees fail to land Cabrera in a trade, Littell could be a relatively cheap backup option who's thrown 8.1 postseason innings.
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