Yankees Face Rotation Crisis After Max Fried Injury

The New York Yankees are facing significant challenges in their starting rotation due to injuries to key pitchers Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil, with Max Fried also dealing with a lingering blister issue. These setbacks have intensified calls from analysts like Jake Elman for the Yankees to pursue emergency trades to bolster their rotation before the trade deadline. Potential trade targets include Arizona Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen, a former All-Star with a down year but strong recent track record; Milwaukee Brewers' Jose Quintana, an affordable lefty with decent recent performance; and a possible reunion with disgruntled Athletics pitcher Luis Severino, though this option is viewed as more controversial. The Yankees currently rely heavily on Carlos Rodón, Fried, and the returning Gil, but lack depth beyond them, raising concerns about postseason stability. While Fried's blister injury is not confirmed to require a long-term absence, it underscores the urgency for the Yankees to add pitching insurance to avoid further rotation instability. These trade proposals reflect a strategy to acquire proven starters without sacrificing top prospects, aiming to strengthen the rotation for the remainder of the season and beyond.