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Try it freeThe Yankees are not taking their talent from South Beach.
The Cubs are working on a deal to acquire Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed Wednesday, after the Yankees had been in talks with Miami about a potential deal — though word is they were “never close.”
Cabrera possesses the kind of upside the Yankees seek to solidify their rotation, but not necessarily the durability, which loomed large given that they are already set to start the season with Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt on the injured list. Cabrera has had various stints on the IL in recent years, including one for an elbow sprain in September.
The Yankees will now have to look elsewhere for starting pitching help as they are currently projected to enter the season with a rotation of Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, Will Warren and Ryan Yarbrough. Fried, Schlittler and Warren are all coming off career-high workloads and Gil has struggled to stay healthy, which is why the Yankees may still need to add more in that area, especially to help them get through the early part of the season before Rodón and Cole return.
Edward Cabrera Getty ImagesWhile their biggest priority remains re-signing Cody Bellinger, there are still a few attractive arms that could be available via the trade market, assuming that is the avenue the Yankees take rather than free agency to help keep the payroll in check. Among the most notable starters potentially to be had are Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, though there are likely to be plenty of suitors for both.
Peralta is only one year away from free agency, but would still command a haul given his track record. The 29-year-old right-hander is coming off the best season of his career, in which he posted a 2.70 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 176 ²/₃ innings. He has made 30-plus starts in each of the past three seasons and will make only $8 million in 2026.
The Brewers could be looking for a return package similar to the one they got for Corbin Burnes when they sent him to the Orioles two years ago, netting them shortstop Joey Ortiz and lefty DL Hall — then two top prospects who were MLB-ready.
Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone Getty ImagesGore, meanwhile, is a 26-year-old lefty who would come with two years of team control but is less of a sure thing. He is coming off a 30-start season in which he posted a 4.17 ERA, striking out 185 in 159 ²/₃ innings. In 2024, he pitched to a 3.90 ERA across 32 starts, with 181 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings.
Once part of the blockbuster return from the Padres for Juan Soto in 2022, Gore is projected to make around $4.7 million this season, his second year of arbitration.
“I’d love to add a starter regardless,” general manager Brian Cashman said at the Winter Meetings last month. “The more, the better. If we can find some inventory to add to our crew — but at the same time, knowing that our crew is going to be there when they’re all healthy, so it’s got to be something that provides some flexibility — which could also include, worst-case scenario if everyone stayed healthy, which is never the case, then you can push somebody into the pen if you have to.”
The Yankees could also turn to the free-agent market to add a starter, though they may be more hard-pressed to do so if they re-sign Cody Bellinger, which would vault their payroll over $300 million. Bringing back Bellinger would make someone like Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones more expendable in a trade for a starting pitcher, but for now, the Yankees continue to play the waiting game.






