After reportedly being linked to Edward Cabrera, MacKenzie Gore, and Freddy Peralta this offseason, the New York Yankees missed out on all three pitchers. But while Cabrera and Gore going elsewhere doesn’t hurt all that badly, Peralta being dealt to the crosstown rival New York Mets certainly does. Fortunately for the Yankees, several pitching trade targets remain viable options, especially considering the return Brian Cashman could offer.
Pitchers Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz are both top-three prospects in the Yankees’ system, and they look ready to contribute as early as 2026. It might be costly, but acquiring another pitcher is crucial for the Yankees with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt all injured.
RHP Sandy Alcantara – Miami Marlins
It’s been a rough few years for Sandy Alcantara. After winning the Cy Young award in 2022, Alcantara saw his numbers dip across the board the following season. He then missed the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery before struggling again in 2025.
Simply put, Alcantara is not the same pitcher he once was. However, the Yankees don’t need the 2022 version of him. With Max Fried and Cam Schlittler forming a dominant one-two punch atop the rotation, Alcantara could slot in as the Yankees’ third starter.
Despite what his numbers might indicate, Alcantara finished the season better than he began. In August, he pitched to a 3.69 ERA in six starts. He followed that up with a 3.71 ERA in September, going 3-1 in four starts. If the Yankees trade for Alcantara, they should expect to acquire that version of him.
RHP Joe Ryan – Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins had a fire-sale at last year’s trade deadline, shipping away reliever Jhoan Duran, outfielder Harrison Bader, and shortstop Carlos Correa, among others. One of the few players the team held onto, though, was pitcher Joe Ryan.
It’s understandable why the Twins held onto Ryan. In 2025, the five-year MLB veteran posted a 3.42 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He also walked batters at a mere 5.7% rate, while striking them out at a 28.2% clip. That led to him striking out 195 batters, the 15th most in the league. This all happened with a fastball that ranked in the 93rd percentile, generating a fielding run value of 16.
Joe Ryan is rumored to be available in the 2025 offseason, so the Yankees should definitely consider him one of the best starting pitching trade targets. He is one of the best pitchers in the game. The Twins, however, are far from contenders. The team should look to get what they can for Ryan, especially if Lagrange and Rodriguez-Cruz are the return.
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