4 rotation options Yankees could consider

The Yankees have to feel good about their potential playoff rotation for 2026. But potential is the operative word there.

Sure, the Bronx Bombers might have a stable of talented arms at their disposal next October. But right now, on Dec. 12, New York’s rotation has a lot of question marks behind Max Fried, who is coming off a career-high innings workload (195 1/3 innings).

At their best, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are frontline-type starters. But both pitchers are expected to have delayed starts to 2026, and no one can predict how they’ll look after returning from their respective elbow surgeries.

Luis Gil won the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year Award, but he threw only 57 innings last season after suffering a right lat strain during Spring Training and had some shaky peripherals behind his 3.32 ERA -- including a 4.63 FIP, a 6.5 K/9 and a 5.2 BB/9.

And while Cam Schlittler looked great during his 2025 rookie season and delivered on the postseason stage, he also has fewer than 100 MLB innings under his belt.

All of that is to say that the Yankees may want to consider adding a starting pitcher this offseason, even if re-signing Cody Bellinger is currently their top priority.

Given the money left on their deals with Fried, Cole and Rodón, we can likely rule out the trio of free-agent starters expected to command nine-figure contracts: Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez and Tatsuya Imai. Even so, there are some attractive options out there that the Yankees could pursue.

Here are four paths New York could take to shore up its rotation, along with one suggested target in each category.

Trade market

Suggested target: Freddy Peralta

Why it makes sense: Peralta’s numbers since he became a full-time starter in 2021 (3.30 ERA, 10.9 K/9) compare favorably to those of Dylan Cease, who just signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays in free agency. Peralta’s 2026 salary with the Brewers? Just $8 million. The Yankees also have been linked to MacKenzie Gore, but Peralta is the safer bet at this point and could cost less to acquire as a pitcher with one year of team control remaining, compared to two for the Nats lefty.

Why it doesn’t: It's going to take a strong offer to get Milwaukee to trade Peralta, and there's going to be a lot of competition for his services due to his track record and team friendly salary. Do the Yankees really want to surrender young assets for a pitcher they could lose in free agency a year from now?

High-end free agent

Suggested target: Michael King

Why it makes sense: King is a product of the Yankees' farm system and was a valuable arm for the club across 2022-23 while pitching mostly in relief, but they traded him to the Padres in the Juan Soto deal just as he was ready to blossom into a top-flight starter. Now, they have a chance to get him back. He's one of the best free-agent starters left on the market but isn't expected to cost as much as Valdez, Suárez or Imai.

Why it doesn’t: King is coming off an injury-plagued campaign and has just one season as a healthy, full-time starter on his résumé, so he may not be the ideal fit for a team seeking more rotation certainty. King could also cost upwards of $20 million per year on a multiyear contract -- the deals signed by Nathan Eovaldi (three years, $75 million), Sean Manaea (three years, $75 million) and Yusei Kikuchi (three years, $63 million) last offseason are reasonable comps. With other needs to address, a lower-priced option might be preferable for New York.

Mid-tier free agent

Suggested target: Merrill Kelly

Why it makes sense: Kelly quietly has posted a 120 ERA+ over 108 starts since 2022, a mark that puts him in the same neighborhood as fellow free agents Valdez (127) Suárez (117) and Zac Gallen (117), as well as Peralta (122). His playoff success for the D-backs in 2023 -- he had a 2.25 ERA over four starts -- adds to his appeal.

Why it doesn’t: Kelly’s contact-heavy profile doesn’t leave a lot of room for growth, and at 37, there’s natural risk in assuming he’ll maintain his recent performance level. Plus, the Yankees could be hesitant to shop in this aisle again after how their two-year, $37 million contract with Marcus Stroman turned out.

Back-end innings eater

Suggested target: Jose Quintana

Why it makes sense: The Yankees' rotation has plenty of long-term upside. Adding a low-risk option like Quintana to soak up innings at the back of their rotation until Cole and Rodón are back might be all they need. The veteran lefty also has experience pitching in New York after spending 2023-24 with the Mets.

Why it doesn’t: The Yankees already have Ryan Yarbrough on the roster to fill this role, having re-signed the southpaw for $2.5 million on a one-year deal.