Yankees could target $5.72 million Rays pitcher to boost rotation

The New York Yankees were dealt a reliable rustle successful outpouring training erstwhile they mislaid Gerrit Cole for nan play owed to Tommy John surgery. To make matters worse, they besides mislaid Luis Gil to an injury, and his timeline is still uncertain.

At nan waste and acquisition deadline, nan Yankees whitethorn request to adhd an limb aliases 2 to their rotation.

Starting pitching is ever successful precocious request astatine nan deadline, truthful nan Yankees will beryllium successful a title to onshore an arm.

Kristie Ackert of Athlon Sports projected nan thought of New York making a play for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell.

"They’re already testing nan limits of their rotation depth, and while Marcus Stroman whitethorn return soon, nan nine can’t spend to thin solely connected hope. Littell wouldn’t costs top-tier prospects and could connection precisely what New York needs: stability, innings, and familiarity," Ackert wrote.

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Littell has put together a beardown play for nan Rays. He's 6-5 successful 13 starts pinch a 3.68 ERA.

Littell is besides a erstwhile Yankee farmhand, having been acquired from nan Seattle Mariners successful 2016 and later being flipped to nan Minnesota Twins nan pursuing twelvemonth for left-hander Jaime Garcia.

The Rays are chasing nan Yankees successful nan AL East, but they typically for illustration to make moves successful some directions astatine nan waste and acquisition deadline.

New York needs to plug a hole, arsenic it remains to beryllium seen erstwhile Gil will beryllium back. They evidently aren't going to get Cole backmost until immoderate constituent successful 2026.

Littell is successful nan last twelvemonth of his contract, truthful it would make consciousness for nan Rays to waste and acquisition him. But he would besides springiness nan Yankees precisely what they request down nan stretch.

We'll spot if New York gives nan Rays a telephone astir nan seasoned right-hander.

More MLB: Yankees-Pirates blockbuster waste and acquisition transportation brings 2-time All-Star pitcher to New York