Before Tarik Skubal was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the biggest move of this year's trade deadline, the New York Yankees were trying to get him.
“We talked to Detroit,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Monday, per the Associated Press' Larry Fleisher. “They set a high price and to be honest that was not something we were unable to get them off of what they said might work, but at the same time they were communicating that it also might not even win the day and then they kind of went silent, I think after they got what they were looking for.”
Skubal's move to the Dodgers takes them from favorites to win the World Series to overwhelming favorites. Meanwhile, the Yankees rotation might be the best in the American League, and they are set up to make a run to the World Series as well.
Even without Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger healthy, the Yankees have the second-best record in the AL. If they get those guys back before October, they should be favorites to win the AL. Regardless, adding Skubal would have improved their chances.
The Yankees did not go into the deadline needing starting pitching. Cam Schlittler is the AL Cy Young Award favorite, Gerrit Cole has looked great recently, Max Fried has impressed since returning from injury and Carlos Rodón is about to start his rehab assignment.
Those four are more than enough to get the Yankees through October. Instead of adding pitching, the Yankees opted to add some bats and called up their top prospect to replace Anthony Volpe at shortstop. The deadline has passed now, and this is the team the Yankees have as they look to win the World Series.