The New York Yankees are stumbling a little bit as they head into a crucial three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend. They are now 4 1/2 games back in the American League East.
They still lead the Wild Card race, but have been struggling since June. Their starting rotation has been hit hard by injuries.
Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt both underwent Tommy John surgery and are out for the rest of 2025. As such, New York will need to dive into the trade market.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report proposed the idea of New York targeting Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"The Yankees have been looking to add a starter ever since Clarke Schmidt went under the knife to have Tommy John surgery. Whether Gallen is the best they can do is debatable, but what really brings the circle together is how well they line up with the D-backs as trading partners," Rymer wrote.
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The Yankees are likely to be buyers at this year's trade deadline. They have other needs to address besides starting pitching.
But adding Gallen to the mix would give them an arm that can be trusted in big games. The 29-year-old has struggled this year, going 7-11 with a 5.58 ERA in 21 starts, but he still can generate swings and misses and eat innings.
The Diamondbacks began their sale on Thursday night, sending Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners. Gallen is likely to follow soon with the deadline less than a week away.
The right-hander played a pivotal role in getting Arizona to the World Series in 2023. He could potentially help the Yankees gain some ground in the AL East as the stretch run of the 2025 season approaches.
We'll see if New York makes an offer.