Should Yankees target NL ace after Clarke Schmidt injury news?

Before Boone's announcement, MLB insider Jon Morosi said Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen would be "a good fit" for the Yankees if they move him before the deadline on July 31 at 6 p.m. ET (h/t MLB.com). 

Entering Thursday, the Diamondbacks (46-47) were fourth in the NL West and trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers (56-38) by 9.5 games, so it's easy to see why they may want to be sellers. 

Gallen, who's in the final year of his contract, made the All-Star Game and finished third in NL Cy Young voting during the 2023 season. However, he's off to a rocky start in 2025. 

Through his first 19 games this season, he has logged a subpar 5.15 ERA and has a 7-9 record. Over his past two starts, though, he looked much better, finishing with a 0.69 ERA and tossing 19 strikeouts. 

The Yankees starting rotation isn't awful, but it isn't what you'd call elite. Through New York's first 92 games, it was tied for 15th in baseball in quality starts (34). 

New York starting pitcher Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery in March, leaving the Yankees without a true ace for the rest of the 2025 season.

Gallen may not be having a stellar year, but at least he would give the Yankees another option, which they need to catch up in the American League East race. Entering Thursday, the Yankees (51-41) trailed the Toronto Blue Jays (54-39) by 2.5 games.