With the clock running out for the Yankees manager, the GM, and possibly even Aaron Judge, win-now’s the call for the team in the midst of a pressure cooker of a New York. It says Aaron Boone’s best team yet is going to need some reinforcements after another ‘wasted year’. They already have a good pitching depth to start. What the Yankees now need is to cash in on it.

Geritt Cole is returning, Carlos Rodón is reported to join in following his elbow recovery, while Cam Schlittler and Max Fried stand prepared to welcome a star addition. On the other end, the Tigers and Tarik Skubal — who will be hitting free agency next year — haven’t managed to agree to an extension yet. According to ESPN’s Randy Wilkins, this is the moment the Yankees need to stir in their favor.

“I’m going to keep saying this. The Yankees need to be all over this. If they’re this far apart, the Tigers will at least listen. The Yankees have an open spot even without the injuries. Go build a bully. The Dodgers built a crazy rotation. The Yankees should, too. Be a bully,” he expressed on X.

The Dodgers’ rotation has been formidable for the last few years. And with their Japanese trio going good, they would be stronger than ever the next year. The Yankees have an opportunity to form a good response with Skubal’s addition.

The 28-year-old posted an AL-best 2.21 ERA. He also led AL pitchers with 6.6 WAR and finished second in the majors with a career-high 241 strikeouts. He has meant dominance for the past two seasons in Detroit. But the small market team seems unlikely to match the pitcher’s baseline, which is being seen around $400 million, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman.

He also wrote: “They’re going to bridge quite possibly the biggest gap in MLB negotiating history: an estimated quarter of a billion dollars ($250M).” For the deep-pocket Yankees, this spells like a good opportunity. However, while Wilkins’ rotation idea for the Yankees sounds intriguing, it would come with a cost…

“I think the Mets or the Yankees trading for Skubal is a terrible idea…  I think the Mets aren’t doing it. And I think the Yankees would be insane to do it. You cannot trade all of the prospects it’s going to take for one year of Skubal… Why would you trade for either a one-season or half a season at the deadline next year? Why would you trade top-level prospects for a guy that you’re going to have for one year and then have to pay $400, $500 million? “WFAN’s Chris McMonigle warned the Yankees.

Considering Skubal is heading into his final year of arbitration, and given his market value, the Yankees would need to free up their prospect list to get him. History hasn’t favored the team in a similar instance. Back in 2024, the Yankees traded away Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Kyle Higashioka to get Juan Soto from the Padres. Still, Soto left for the Mets in just one year.

But Wilkins, The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, and Clutch Points’ Zachary Howell, among others are calling for the Yankees to make the move. They could trade OF Spencer Jones, SP Will Warren, and/or SP Luis Gil, who have struggled in the 2025 season.

Additionally, with Boone looking at two years on his contract, GM Brian Cashman seeing one, and Judge turning 34 years old next April –only three players have posted a wRC+ of 165 or higher — future with young talents doesn’t seem to be the priority for the team. They are chasing No.28, and urgently so.

Tarik Skubal is spoiled with choices

There are more reasons behind the Yankees not getting Skubal easily. And that’s not only the presence of the Mets. Reportedly, apart from the Mets and Yankees, there are a few other teams also pursuing him.

The first name would be the Phillies… They once again cracked the 90-win mark in 2025, but their October run fizzled out early with another divisional-round exit. So, a potential swing for a game-changing ace like Tarik Skubal could anchor their rotation and reignite their World Series dreams. Moreover, the Phillies have the prospects to tempt Detroit.

And if the Tigers listen closely, they might even hear Bryce Harper’s name whispered in trade talks!

Up north, the Cubs are quietly turning potential into power. This year, they recorded 92 wins and showcased a new wave of stars like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cade Horton. Now, with Skubal atop their rotation, the Cubs could transform from playoff hopefuls to National League favorites overnight.

Well, make no mistake because both the Phillies and Cubs have the talent and prospect depth to make Detroit listen. That maybe even more so than the Yankees, who suddenly look like just one more suitor in a crowded race for baseball’s next great ace.