You know how the New York Yankees had the best starting rotation in the Majors this past season? Their starters absolutely dominated with a league-best 3.30 ERA in 2026, led by powerhouses like Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodon. Well, get ready for this: if they manage to land two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, we might be talking about the greatest rotation *ever* assembled.
Already The Best? Get Ready For Unstoppable.
Seriously, the Yankees were already stacked on the mound. Beyond that incredible top four, they had reliable arms in Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and prospect Elmer Rodriguez. Carlos Lagrange is also in the mix, potentially as a starter or a reliever. They’ve got arms for days! But here’s the thing: when the best pitcher in the sport becomes a free agent, you gotta at least kick the tires, right? Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer put it perfectly: “Well, sometimes the best thing to do with a strength is lean into it. And if the Yankees could line up [Tarik] Skubal with Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodón, that’s when we could begin having the ‘Best Rotation Ever?’ discussion.” Imagine Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, teaming up with Schlittler. That’s a two-headed monster, plain and simple. On paper, that kind of rotation would be nearly unbeatable in a postseason series.
Breaking The Bank For A Dynasty?
So, what about the money? Skubal is not going to come cheap. He’s expected to command the largest contract ever for a starting pitcher, which means even more than Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s massive 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers. Can the Yankees afford that kind of coin? Absolutely. Rymer pointed out that their roster already has three players on contracts originally worth at least $300 million. If Hal Steinbrenner is serious about bringing home Championship No. 28, then dropping the cash for a fourth mega-deal seems like a no-brainer. There’s no strong indication right now that the Yankees are seriously targeting Skubal this offseason. But the mere *possibility* that they could build a rotation like that is enough to make the entire league nervous.
Look, the offseason is just getting started. There is no strong indication *right now* that the Yankees are seriously going after Skubal. But just imagine that rotation: Skubal, Schlittler, Fried, Cole, Rodon. That is the kind of move that turns a really good team into an absolute juggernaut aiming for Championship No. 28. We are watching this offseason closely, because if this actually happens, the rest of the league needs to seriously worry.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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