Jon Heyman Yankees’ other trade deadline needs make Tarik Skubal a long shot By Jon Heyman Published June 18, 2026, 8:14 p.m. ET Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers pitches to Angel Martínez of the Cleveland Guardians. Getty Images The Yankees will make the phone call on two-time defending AL Cy Young Tarik Skubal. But that’s a big long shot for them.
Even with ace Max Fried (arm) six weeks away, the Yankees’ priorities are catcher and bullpen.
The Tigers are looking at Yankees prospects (and others, too) and are believed to like them, especially SS George Lombard Jr., whose dad is the Tigers bench coach, and reliever Carlos Lagrange. But one Yankees person assessed their chances of trading Lombard for a rental (even a great one) as: “No chance.”
Yankees catchers are hitting .184 with a pathetic .548 OPS.
