Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Former No. 11 Prospect Could Force Difficult Yankees Trade Deadline Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated May 27, 2025 8:08 AM ET

From the second that ace Gerrit Cole went down with season-ending elbow surgery in spring training, fans and pundits have regularly insisted the New York Yankees must acquire another starting pitcher.

Tell that to veteran lefty Ryan Yarbrough, who continues making a case to remain in the rotation and have the Yankees turn elsewhere ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

Yarbrough turned in another impressive start on Monday night, limiting the Los Angeles Angels to two hits and one run over six strong innings. The 33-year-old struck out seven, with a Zach Neto leadoff home run marking his only blemish.

Yarbrough is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 19-5 K-BB ratio over four starts and 20 innings this month. Not bad for someone who signed a one-year, $2 million contract less than a week before Opening Day.

“It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Yarbrough said, via the New York Post.

If Yarbrough continues his unexpected success, he could force the Yankees to reconsider adding a starting pitcher before July 31. Although Max Fried (7-0, 1.29) is a legitimate Cy Young contender, the Yankees remain without Cole and Luis Gil, who could potentially return from a lat injury in July.

Yarbrough came up as a starting pitcher, even entering 2015 as the Seattle Mariners’ No. 14 prospect. However, he spent last season as a full-time reliever with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, and it appeared he’d do the same upon joining the Yankees.

Ryan Yarbrough Painting. ️ pic.twitter.com/8EjZIkqcJI
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 27, 2025

Despite his hot streak, he still owns a 4.61 ERA over 72 career starts.

If the Yankees do trade for a pitcher, Yarbrough could nonetheless keep his rotation spot. Clarke Schmidt has struggled with control since returning from a rotator cuff injury, and rookie Will Warren has only pitched into the sixth inning twice in 11 starts.

Who would have guessed Yarbrough might be in line to join the likes of Matt Carpenter in the “unexpected veterans who saved the Yankees” club?

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: