Latest Yankees injury makes rotation a trade-deadline priority

The New York Yankees did not waste any time in shutting down pitcher Clarke Schmidt.

Schmidt was placed on the injured list on Friday with right forearm tightness. According to Bryan Hoch from MLB.com, Schmidt said that he had been dealing with forearm tightness since his start on June 4. Greg Joyce of the New York Post further reported that Schmidt was undergoing an MRI on Friday.

Schmidt had begun to establish himself as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter. He has followed up a breakout 2024 season by posting a 3.32 ERA and a 1.093 WHiP over his 78.2 innings, striking out 73 batters with 30 walks.

His absence leaves another gaping hole in the Yankees rotation. Pitcher Gerrit Cole will not return until 2026. Luis Gil and reliever-turned-starter Ryan Yarbrough are on the injured list. Although Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are a formidable one-two punch, the rest of the rotation is filled with question marks. Rookie pitcher Will Warren has been inconsistent at best. Pitchers Marcus Stroman and Allan Winans are not an answer to the questions in the rotation.

Schmidt's injury puts a spotlight on those rotation issues. Warren, Stroman and Winans are not pitchers who should be part of a rotation on a playoff team. Although Gil should return in the second half and prospect Cam Schlittler is reportedly being considered as an option, the rotation needs help.

Although the Yankees have other needs — third base in particular — the rotation needs to be the focal point ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. If the Yankees are going to make a serious run to the World Series, at least one more starting pitcher will be necessary.