As long as Aaron Judge continues performing at an elite level, the New York Yankees are going to stay aggressive at the trade deadline.
At 33, Judge is making a strong case for what could be his third—arguably fourth—MVP award. While he’s still firmly in his prime, that window will inevitably close, even if it doesn’t feel imminent. The Yankees must maximize this period of his extraordinary production.
Their most pressing issue lies in the starting rotation.
With Gerrit Cole out until 2026 and Luis Gil still on the shelf, serious doubts remain about the depth and reliability of the back end of their staff. This is a team built to contend now, and pitching help is a must.
As Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report noted:
“The Yankees rank 11th in MLB with a 3.73 ERA from the starting rotation, which is better than anticipated given the injuries to Cole and Gil before Opening Day. However, much of the load has fallen on Max Fried (9 GS, 1.11 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 56.2 IP) and Carlos Rodón (9 GS, 3.29 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 54.2 IP). Acquiring another quality starter should be a top priority as the deadline nears.”
Trade Proposal
One team that matches up well with the Yankees’ needs is the Philadelphia Phillies. Here’s a hypothetical trade that could benefit both clubs:
Yankees receive:
- LHP Ranger Suárez
Phillies receive:
- OF Everson Pereira (Yankees No. 12 prospect)
- RHP Mark Leiter Jr.
Philadelphia has the rotation depth to move Suárez, with Zack Wheeler, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Christopher Sánchez, Taijuan Walker, and top prospect Andrew Painter in the mix. Suárez has battled lower back soreness and hasn’t been sharp in limited innings this season (5.91 ERA over 10.2 IP), but his underlying metrics (1.89 FIP) and postseason resume (1.43 ERA, 2.79 FIP in 37.2 playoff innings) make him a strong candidate for New York’s rotation.
He’d join a group headlined by Fried and Rodón, alongside Clarke Schmidt and eventually Gil. Will Warren, who’s been a pleasant surprise, could shift to a swingman role.
Why It Works for Both Sides
Mark Leiter Jr. (3.31 ERA, 1.94 FIP) is a valuable bullpen piece, and with Jonathan Loáisiga and Scott Effross nearing returns, the Yankees can afford to move him. The Phillies need bullpen help badly and would benefit from Leiter’s presence.
Everson Pereira is thriving in Triple-A (.289 AVG, .948 OPS, 8 HR in 90 ABs), and could inject youth into a Phillies team with an aging core. Even as they chase a title, adding a promising young bat like Pereira helps them prepare for the future.
Though Suárez is under team control for just one more year, the Yankees should be laser-focused on making a run in 2025. The American League is relatively wide open again, and Suárez could be the midseason addition that propels New York toward a World Series berth.