NEW YORK — The Yankees are slated to remain active in the trade market leading up to the Thursday evening trade deadline, here is what I am hearing/reading leading up to the deadline.
As Thursday’s trade deadline approaches, the New York Yankees are actively seeking reinforcements for their pitching staff, with both starting and relief arms being considered. According to sources around the league, the Yankees have expressed interest in several prominent starting pitchers, including Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres, Merrill Kelly of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Zac Gallen, also of the Diamondbacks. Among this group, Cease stands out as a particularly intriguing target for New York. League insiders indicate the Yankees are expected to pursue Cease aggressively should the Padres opt to make him available.
The Padres, who are currently evaluating their playoff position and roster construction, appear open to dealing select players in exchange for organizational needs, particularly in areas like catching depth. This aligns well with the Yankees’ surplus at the catcher position, as New York has multiple backstops at the major league and upper-minor league levels who could be of interest to San Diego. While a deal involving Cease is not imminent, the match in team needs and available assets could create a viable path toward a high-impact move before the deadline. The Blue Jays also have interest in Cease
In addition to seeking upgrades on the position player side, the New York Yankees are actively exploring ways to bolster their bullpen ahead of the trade deadline. According to multiple sources, the Yankees have expressed interest in several key relievers from the Minnesota Twins, including right-handers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, as well as left-hander Danny Coulombe. Each has demonstrated the ability to handle high-leverage situations and could immediately upgrade the Yankees’ late-inning relief corps.
The market for relievers in 2025 has proven to be especially competitive, with demand far outpacing supply. This has driven up the asking prices significantly, particularly for controllable arms with postseason experience and strong underlying metrics. For the Yankees, however, the cost may be worth it. The bullpen has faced inconsistency throughout the season, and acquiring a dependable late-inning option has become a priority if the club intends to make a deep playoff run.
Beyond the Minnesota trio, the Yankees have also been linked to other prominent relievers across the league. Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar remains a top target, as does St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Ryan Helsley. Fellow Cardinal JoJo Romero, a left-hander with strong strikeout numbers, is another potential fit for New York. With multiple contenders circling the same group of bullpen arms, the Yankees may need to act quickly—and aggressively—if they hope to land one of these high-impact relievers.
(Top Image Credit: MLB.com)