After the Winter Meetings, the New York Yankees were determined to “do everything possible to acquire Imai.” Even after observing Tatsuya Imai’s pitches, the Yankees sat out on the Zoom conferences, and it ultimately ended with the 27-year-old becoming the first NPB player to sign directly with the Houston Astros. With Tatsuya Imai signing a 3-year, $63 million deal with the Astros, there are only a handful of good options left for the Bronx Bombers.

One of them is MacKenzie Gore.

“The Yankees were popping up a lot for Tatsuya Imai, but now that he’s off the board,” pointed out Robbie Hyde, “maybe they pivot towards the trademark… someone like MacKenzie Gore could make some sense, someone that they would have for the next couple of years.”

The Yankees’ decision not to open the checkbook for Tatsuya Imai left a major gap in an already thin rotation. Imai posted a 2.38 ERA with 174 strikeouts over three seasons in Japan. Missing him forces New York to rely on uncertain health timelines for Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon that could directly affect the team’s early-season performance and depth.

The 2025 season exposed how critical rotation issues can derail the Yankees’ ambitions, even with a powerful offense.

Max Fried and Carlos Rodon both slumped midseason, raising the pitching staff’s ERA and stressing the bullpen. One-run games became a liability, as Devin Williams struggled with seven blown saves and six losses.

These gaps illustrated that a dependable starter like Imai could have stabilized innings and reduced pressure on younger pitchers.

The Yankees’ management faces added weight from 16 consecutive years without a World Series. Despite having payroll flexibility, no moves so far have signaled a serious push toward championship contention. Now, pursuing MacKenzie Gore offers a chance to show commitment while addressing rotation needs.

Gore posted a 3.82 ERA with 191 strikeouts last season, projecting a $4.7 million salary under team control next year.

Adding Gore could cover starts until Cole and Rodon return and protect younger arms from overuse.

The rotation to start will likely include Fried, Luis Gil, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler, with placeholder options for depth. The gamble lies in relying on an adjustment period for Gore, yet he brings proven mid-rotation stability.

For New York, acquiring MacKenzie Gore could solve immediate innings problems while signaling intent to compete at the highest level.

The Yankees need more depth in their pitching

The New York Yankees are rolling into 2026 with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Jake Cousins, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Clayton Beeter, and Chase Hampton: a lineup of arms that has more injury history than highlight reels. Spring Training looms, and the question isn’t how hard they throw, it’s who will still be standing when the season starts. Depth isn’t optional; it’s survival, and right now, the roster reads like a trust fall waiting to happen.

Four of their top six pitchers needed season-ending UCL surgery (Schmidt, Cole, Rodon, and Hampton) before the end of 2025, creating concern for any early-season ramp-up. Spring Training remains the period where arms are most vulnerable, making depth an urgent necessity for the rotation.

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Currently, Paul Blackburn, Elmer Rodriguez, and Brendan Beck are the team’s emergency options, none of whom have established Major League starter track records.

Blackburn excelled in relief with a 3.25 xFIP and 24.6 percent strikeout rate, but the Yankees view him as a reliever, not a starter. Rodriguez has only one Triple-A start, and Beck’s fastball sits 91–92 MPH with limited pitch variety, making the plan thin and risky.

Justin Hagenman and Germán Márquez could provide critical rotation depth if added before Spring Training. Hagenman threw four consistent pitches in the big leagues with two Minor League options and is valued around $2.5 million, making him a flexible acquisition.

Márquez still sits at 95 MPH on his fastball with a strong curve, and a Minor League deal could allow adjustments away from Coors Field, giving the Yankees safer options if early-season injuries strike.

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon can’t carry the Yankees if injuries strike early in Spring Training. Adding Hagenman or Márquez isn’t optional; it’s essential to avoid another rotation crisis scenario. Without real depth, the Bronx Bombers risk turning Opening Day into a guessing game of who actually makes starts.