Yankees' Potential Tarik Skubal Pursuit Seems Wildly Unrealistic

The New York Yankees are being floated by many as a potential landing spot for Tarik Skubal this offseason, but to me, that feels like a formality.

The Yankees are always mentioned as a possible destination for expensive free agents, so it's only natural to hear them discussed in the Skubal sweepstakes.

But do I believe New York will actually make a significant push for Skubal? No.

Skubal will likely command a contract worth in the neighborhood of $400 million in totality. I cannot see the Yankees going that far for a pitcher. Not right now.

Starting pitching is not the problem for the Yanks. In fact, they have it in excess. Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Will Warren comprise the five-man rotation. Ryan Weathers is on the outskirts and could ultimately get traded.

Then, New York has guys like Elmer Rodriguez (who made a handful of big-league starts in 2026), Carlos Lagrange and Ben Hess down in the minor leagues.

Think about this for a second: Rodon didn't get a single start in the playoffs. He was slated to start Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series, but the Yankees ended up getting swept. But the fact that Rodon — he of the six-year, $162 million deal — didn't even get a chance to pitch in the postseason is wild.

That should tell you everything you need to know about New York's chances of seriously pursuing Skubal this winter.

To be quite honest, the Yankees don't need Skubal. It sounds crazy considering Skubal is one of the best pitchers in baseball, but that money could be better spent elsewhere.

New York needs a second baseman. It needs a replacement for Ryan McMahon at the hot corner. It needs another catcher. It must find a way to patch up a bullpen that could lose five key names in the coming months.

If the Yanks sign Skubal (who is a Scott Boras client, by the way), they won't have any money left over to make other necessary moves.

As I've said time and time again, these aren't your dad's Yankees. Hal Steinbrenner is not George. He still builds big payrolls, but he is not nearly as spendthrift as his father was, as we saw very clearly last offseason when New York re-signed Cody Bellinger and essentially sat on the sidelines elsewhere.

Skubal turns 30 years old next month and has had multiple elbow surgeries. That contract might not age well, and the Yankees know it.

While I'm all for New York going "all in," as Aaron Judge put it, this winter, I actually don't think that Skubal is a viable target — nor should he be.