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Is a Future Yankee Pitching Against Them Thursday?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 1:10 PM ET

The Yankees don’t need scouting reports tonight. Right-hander Tyler Anderson, one of their potential trade-deadline targets, is on the mound at Yankee Stadium.

Anderson, 32, carries a 6–6 record and 4.44 ERA this season. It's solid but unspectacular. He earned that by being wildly effective early on, with a 2.52 ERA in his first 11 starts before June's stretch wore him down. The Yankees are always confident in pitching coach Matt Blake's ability to turn around a talented starter, especially if it's a deal for them.

Under the terms of a three-year, $39 million contract signed in November 2022, he’s under team control through 2025. He could be a relatively cheap rental to give the Yankees pitching depth.

The Angels sit at 35–37 and are projected to become sellers. With that kind of contract and half-a-season data, Anderson fits the classic template of “win-now” rotation depth.

Former MLB GM Jim Bowden wrote in his The Athletic column last week that he expects Anderson to be traded next month.

The Yankees, watching their rotation shoulder a heavy workload, need to bring in some depth.

Luis Gil’s innings still need managing when he finally returns from the injured list. Marcus Stroman wasn't very effective before he went on the IL. The Yankees have been holding it together with Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough at the back end of the rotation, but they need more insurance for the rotation.

New York has also been linked to bigger arms. Freddy Peralta, Edward Cabrera, and Sandy Alcantara are the most frequent. But those come with steeper costs in terms of prospects, which the Yankees are already a little short on.

So, today could be an interesting audition.

If Anderson is efficient, rides deep into the later innings, and keeps the Bronx quiet, he's auditioning live and loud.

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

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