“I think we have a chance to win a World Series,“ Skubal told The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen on Thursday. “I’ve never been more motivated to try to win a World Series for this city, the team that drafted me in 2018 and helped develop me. That’s always been the goal, and that will never change unless I’m told I’m on a different team.”

The left-hander is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 season, making him one of the most coveted pitchers available if Detroit decides to entertain offers before the Aug. 3 deadline. However, the Tigers remain in the American League playoff race, adding another layer of uncertainty to his future.

Could the Yankees still pursue Tarik Skubal?

Although Skubal has publicly expressed his desire to remain in Detroit, rival clubs are expected to continue monitoring his situation. The Yankees have repeatedly been mentioned among the teams with the prospect capital to assemble a competitive trade package if the Tigers decide to move their ace.

According to reports, Detroit would seek a controllable starting pitcher along with multiple high-end prospects in return. The Yankees could potentially build such an offer around pitchers like Will Warren or Ryan Weathers, though New York’s priorities have reportedly shifted toward bullpen help and another right-handed bat.

Tigers remain in the playoff race

Detroit’s recent surge has complicated any decision regarding Skubal. Following Thursday’s victory over the Kansas City Royals, the Tigers improved to 27-16 since June 1 and remain within striking distance of both the AL Central lead and a Wild Card berth.

Skubal also acknowledged that he expects little communication from the front office regarding any potential trade discussions. “Those questions are not for me,“ he said. “I’ve been around it a couple times and players usually don’t know until about five minutes before everybody else does.”

According to MLB insider Petriello, “The Rays have the 24th-best projected rest-of-season production at second base, and nothing about Arraez’s contract would be out of Tampa Bay’s range. This is a lineup that’s well known for contact, given the lowest-in-MLB strikeout rate, and Arraez would certainly fit into that fingerprint,” he wrote.

The possibility of a trade has gained attention as teams evaluate their needs for the second half of the season. Petriello noted that Tampa Bay’s roster construction and positional situation make the Rays a more natural fit for Arraez than other contenders reportedly interested in the two‑time batting champion.

Why Luis Arraez could fit better with the Rays than Yankees or Dodgers

One of the biggest factors in a potential Arraez trade is his preference to continue playing second base. While his offensive profile makes him valuable to several contenders, his positional expectations could limit the number of teams where he would immediately have a clear role.

The Yankees have reportedly shown interest in Arraez, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. currently occupies second base in New York. The Dodgers also have Tommy Edman handling the position, creating a more complicated fit for a player who wants consistent opportunities at second.

Rays’ position in AL East adds pressure before MLB trade deadline

Tampa Bay enters the trade deadline in a strong position, currently competing at the top of the American League East. Even with a successful season underway, the Rays could look for additions that strengthen their lineup for a potential postseason push.

Arraez would not only bring elite bat-to-ball skills but also postseason experience after previous runs with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. His ability to control at-bats and avoid strikeouts could complement a team that already emphasizes putting pressure on opposing pitchers.

The main challenge for the Rays would be finding a trade package that satisfies San Francisco. Although Arraez may not command the same return as some of the biggest names available before the deadline, the Giants would still likely expect meaningful value in exchange for one of baseball’s most consistent hitters.

According to The Athletic, Stephenson could become a realistic option as the Yankees search for an experienced catcher. The 29-year-old has posted a 92 wRC+ this season and owns a 104 career wRC+, making him an intriguing target if Cincinnati decides to listen to offers. Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers has also been linked to New York, though multiple contenders are believed to be monitoring his availability.

The Yankees’ plans extend beyond catcher as they continue evaluating upgrades across the roster. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the organization is expected to pursue a platoon partner for Austin Wells, another bat to help offset uncertainty surrounding Aaron Judge‘s injury, and an additional high-leverage reliever before the deadline.

Tyler Stephenson among Yankees’ reported trade options

Stephenson has established himself as a reliable offensive catcher over several seasons with Cincinnati, combining above-average production with regular playing time. His experience and offensive profile could provide the Yankees with a valuable complement to Wells as they prepare for the stretch run.

New York’s front office has reportedly cast a wide net in the catching market, with several names under consideration. However, Stephenson’s combination of offensive consistency and major league experience makes him one of the more appealing options if the Reds become willing sellers.

Yankees continue exploring bullpen and rotation possibilities

Beyond the catching market, the Yankees are also evaluating potential bullpen reinforcements. One name that has surfaced in trade speculation is Mason Miller, although reports indicate the San Diego Padres would require an overwhelming return to consider moving their star closer.

The club is also monitoring internal options. Right-hander Will Warren, who made his first relief appearance after 19 starts this season, impressed with increased velocity in a late-game outing.

With the trade deadline approaching, the Yankees are expected to remain active on multiple fronts as they look to reinforce their lineup, bullpen, and catching depth for the second half of the season.

Caballero has faced mounting backlash over his aggressive pitch-clock manipulation and deliberate stall tactics during at-bats. Following a heated clash with umpires and opposing players, the Yankees infielder took to social media with a firm message defending his routine.

“It’s very easy to just invent rules and change the most beautiful sport in the world, and then not take responsibility for its flaws,” Caballero wrote in a translated post on his Instagram account. “They know they’re wrong, but it’s very hard to accept that a simple player who just wants to play the sport he’s always loved can adapt and use it in his game. In the end, they’re the ones in charge and do whatever they want, whenever and however they want, and everyone else just has to shut up and obey.“

With his statement, Caballero argued that he isn’t breaking any written laws, pointing out that no specific rule explicitly bans his pre-pitch approach. However, tensions boiled over during the series opener between the Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates, leading to a benches-clearing incident on Monday before the league stepped in Wednesday.

What does the rule say, and why is Caballero under fire?

Under Major League Baseball rules, a batter must be in the box and alert to the pitcher by the 8-second mark on the pitch timer. Caballero routinely steps into the box but keeps his head down until the clock hits nine or eight seconds, refusing to make eye contact until the absolute last fraction of a second.

Opposing pitchers, managers, and fanbases have accused Caballero of abusing a loophole in the rule to disrupt a pitcher’s rhythm, force them to rush their delivery, or induce costly pitch-clock violations.

How MLB has responded to Caballero’s tactics

Major League Baseball ultimately ruled that Caballero’s technique circumvents the pitch-clock rules. Citing the league’s “anti-deception” clause, MLB issued a direct directive to umpires instructing them to assess Caballero automatic strikes if he spends an “inordinate amount of time looking down” before engaging the pitcher, without offering a preliminary warning on the field.

The crackdown has ignited a major debate across baseball. Analysts like the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman have chimed in on the controversy, arguing, “He’s got to cut it out. MLB’s got to tell him to stop it, that was not the intention of the rule.”

“For us to reach our peak, we’ve got to get some guys going and be a more consistent attack night in and night out,” Boone said regarding the lineup’s slump and the void left by their captain.

“Aaron Judge is a massive presence in our offense, but he’s not out there right now,” Boone added. “Look at the names we have in this room, those guys are more than capable of stepping up and filling that void.”

Even with Jazz Chisholm Jr. putting on a show—earning praise from teammates as ‘the best in the world’—New York is also feeling the sting of missing Giancarlo Stanton, who remains sidelined on the injured list alongside Judge.

Why Aaron Judge is vital to the Yankees’ offense

Beyond raw production, Judge fundamentally changes how opposing managers and pitchers game-plan against New York. Without the constant threat of his bat—which had already produced 17 home runs prior to his stint on the shelf—opposing hurlers can attack the rest of the order with far less caution.

Without Judge’s pitch-selection leverage and fear factor, opposing pitching staffs can go right after the rest of the lineup, forcing surrounding hitters into unfavorable counts and tougher pitches to drive.

Judge’s elite walk rate and .375 on-base percentage normally extend innings and create traffic on the basepaths. Without his ability to reset the lineup, the Yankees have suffered prolonged dry spells with runners in scoring position (RISP), dragging down their overall run production.

Who must step up for New York without Judge and Stanton?

Missing his top two power hitters has forced Boone to tinker with the batting order. Following his call to “get some guys going” after closing out Pittsburgh, several key hitters must turn things around to keep the Yankees afloat:

• Ben Rice: The 2026 breakout star became a premier force early in the season, hitting 29 home runs and flashing elite metrics when paired with Judge.
• Cody Bellinger: As a former NL MVP, Bellinger brings versatile defense and contact capability to the middle of the lineup.
• Jasson Dominguez: “The Martian” possesses dynamic switch-hitting power and speed in the outfield.

MLB announced the postponement of Tuesday’s game due to heavy rain in the New York area. According to reports, including from the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman, the teams will make up the game as part of a split doubleheader on Wednesday, with Game 1 starting at 1:05 p.m. ET and Game 2 following at 7:05 p.m. ET.

While weather delays are an inevitable part of a grueling 162-game season, the Yankees enter Wednesday holding the series upper hand after taking Monday’s opener 8–5, fueled by a monster two-homer night from Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Monday’s opener also featured a heated eighth-inning incident where the benches cleared following an exchange between Jose Caballero and Pirates reliever Dennis Santana, adding an extra layer of tension heading into Wednesday’s day-night twin bill.

NY Yankees’ postponed games in the regular season

Weather postponements have been relatively rare for New York this season, marking just their second rained-out contest of the year. Unusually, however, both postponements forced the Yankees into playing doubleheaders twice in less than a week.

Just days prior, New York split a split doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropping Game 1 8–2 before bouncing back for a 2–1 victory in the nightcap. The Yankees hope that experience works in their favor as they aim to wrap up a series win over Pittsburgh.

The Pirates, meanwhile, are well-versed in day-night doubleheaders, with Wednesday marking their third of the month following previous twin bills against the Milwaukee Brewers (a sweep for Pittsburgh) and the Cleveland Guardians (a split).

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Jeffers recently said about the trade speculation, according to USA Today. “You just go out there and continue to play baseball. If I wanted to be a GM, I’d stop playing. So, I’ll keep on playing and figure out the future career path after I’m done.”

While New York is believed to have strong interest in the Minnesota Twins catcher, the Yankees aren’t alone. The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly also pursuing Jeffers, setting up a potential AL East bidding war if Minnesota decides to make him available before the August 3 deadline, as USA Today noted.

Will the Twins trade Ryan Jeffers?

A deal is far from certain because Minnesota remains in playoff contention. The Twins are just three games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and remain within striking distance of an American League Wild Card spot.

Although veteran Victor Caratini gives Minnesota another capable catcher, moving Jeffers would weaken a lineup still hoping to reach October. That reality could make the Twins reluctant sellers unless they receive a significant return.

For the Yankees, the coming days will reveal whether they can outbid both the Rays and other interested clubs as they look to reinforce one of the few remaining weaknesses on a roster with postseason aspirations.

Fresh off a two-homer performance in the Yankees’ 8-5 victory, Chisholm Jr. reflected on his swagger at the plate and credited his teammates for keeping his mindset sharp. “They know I’m firm on confidence, and that’s the biggest thing,” Chisholm Jr. told reporters. “They were like, ‘Let’s not forget who you are. You’re the greatest in the world. You’re Jazz Chisholm.'”

With four home runs, 10 RBIs, and eight runs scored over his last 10 games, Chisholm Jr. is proving to be a vital offensive engine for New York. Also, he has recorded 6 extra-base hits and 2 walks for the team.

Despite a brief bench-clearing incident involving Jose Caballero—which the infielder later addressed postgame—the Yankees signaled they are fully locked into chasing down the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the American League East.

Chisholm’s performance in the current season

To appreciate the surge Chisholm Jr. is on, look no further than his overall numbers. While his best stretch has come over the past week and a half, his complete stat line reflects a player making impact plays to keep New York firmly in the postseason hunt.

A breakdown of his season stats:

• Games Played: 95
• Batting Average (AVG): .228
• On-Base Percentage (OBP): .304
• Slugging Percentage (SLG): .422
• OPS: .726
• Home Runs: 16
• RBIs: 43
• Runs Scored: 51
• Stolen Bases: 26

As the series against Pittsburgh continues, manager Aaron Boone will look to keep Chisholm Jr. locked in as a primary playmaker, a crucial spark while Aaron Judge works his way back from injury to bolster the lineup.

“If you get frustrated, I’m winning,” Caballero said after the game, via MLB.com. “For me, it’s a battle in the box. I’m trying to win the battle. If you’re not concentrating 100%, I think I’m winning.”

The incident began after home-plate umpire Paul Clemons waved off a pitch earlier in the at-bat. Caballero eventually grounded into an inning-ending double play, but as the play concluded, Santana confronted him near first base, prompting players from both teams to leave their dugouts before the situation was quickly defused.

Why did the Yankees and Pirates benches clear?

Santana explained that his frustration centered on the pace of the at-bat rather than anything personal toward Caballero. “It was the game speed. I’m not used to that,” Santana said. “People waiting too much at home plate; it frustrated me a little bit. With baseball, you have to be quick. It’s nothing against him. It’s just a game. I got caught up in the game.”

According to Santana, his message to Caballero was simply that he shouldn’t take so long to get set in the batter’s box. Caballero later said he couldn’t hear exactly what Santana was saying during the exchange.

Aaron Boone defends Jose Caballero’s approach

Manager Aaron Boone backed his infielder after the game. “It’s a weird timing thing for guys,” Boone said. “When not a lot of guys do it, it can catch you off guard a little bit. Frankly, I think more guys should explore it. That way, you take the pitcher out of having all the ability to disrupt timing.”

With Sanchez officially in the mix, here is a look at the Yankees’ updated 26-man active roster:

• Catchers (2): Austin Wells, Ali Sanchez
• Infielders (8): Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Amed Rosario, Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice, Max Schuemann, Paul Goldschmidt, Jose Caballero
• Outfielders (3): Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones
• Pitchers (13): Will Warren, Cam Schlittler, Ryan Yarbrough, Ryan Weathers, Tim Hill, Gerrit Cole, Brent Headrick, David Bednar, Carlos Rodón, Paul Blackburn, Jake Bird, Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval

The depth move comes as the Yankees try to maintain their pace in the American League East. General manager Brian Cashman recently detailed the club’s strategy for navigating the regular-season grind without superstar Aaron Judge, who was sidelined by an injury earlier in the week.

Sanchez replaced a player in the 26-man roster

Because the Yankees already possessed open spots on their 40-man roster, backup catcher J.C. Escarra was simply optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear space for Sanchez’s arrival. The roster shuffle underscores the team’s ongoing offensive struggles at the catcher position, prompting Boone and the front office to search for an immediate spark.

Escarra had been struggling to find his footing in the majors, turning in a meager .177 batting average, a lackluster .493 OPS, and just 62 total bases. Confronted with that lack of production, the Yanks made the executive decision to evaluate Sanchez for the remainder of the campaign.

Yankees’ projected lineup with Sanchez on it

The Bronx faithful can expect to see Sanchez split time behind the dish as the season progresses, a change that will naturally tweak the lower third of the batting order. Here is a look at how the Yankees’ projected lineup shakes out with Sanchez in the fold:

1. Anthony Volpe — SS
2. Juan Soto — DH
3. Cody Bellinger — LF
4. Paul Goldschmidt — 1B
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr. — 2B
6. Amed Rosario — 3B
7. Ali Sanchez — C
8. Max Schuemann — CF
9. Spencer Jones — RF

To clear up any doubts, Cashman told reporters that the Yankees still have more than enough talent to keep playing as well as they have done so far. “We’ve got a good club regardless. It’s obviously not as good without Aaron Judge, but still good enough,“ he said.

It makes sense for Cashman to speak to the media that way, but everyone knows the team takes a hit with several key players injured and missing extended time. One of the bats he specifically addressed was Giancarlo Stanton, noting that “he’s been missed” in the lineup.

Cashman has no estimated timeline for Judge’s return

Not even Cashman has a definitive date for when Judge can return to action. “We’re intentionally trying to not put out any guesstimate, because that’s what it would be, is a guesstimate,” Cashman explained. “We just have to let the thing heal and then after that, we can map out a runway.”

Neither Judge nor Aaron Boone have provided an estimated return date, but the NY Yankees must keep moving forward without him in the upcoming weeks as they look to reclaim the top spot in the AL East. Things still look incredibly promising for a postseason run, as they hold a strong 37-25 record and sit just 0.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays.

NY Yankees built to weather the storm without Judge

Things shouldn’t get too complicated for the Yankees while Judge takes the necessary time to heal. Cashman made it clear that Judge’s place in right field is secure, ensuring the front office isn’t looking to permanently replace him at the trade deadline. “We’ve just got to hold the fort, hold that spot nice and warm for him when he returns,“ he stated.

Seeing how Ben Rice has stepped up while Judge and other teammates are sidelined provides a lot of optimism. Rice is currently batting .300, a clear signal that the team can maintain its offensive rhythm. Additionally, veteran Paul Goldschmidt has been solid at the plate, turning in a steady .276 average.

The main threat to the Yankees’ season would be additional injuries. Facing critical upcoming series against teams with dominant pitching rotations means missing their best bats will be an obstacle, and lower-standing teams will certainly look to take advantage of a shorthanded lineup.