It was a banner year
on the trade front for the Yankees, but one move they did not make was a rumored swap with the Marlins for right-hander Sandy Alcantara. Baseball’s a funny sport in that, with Brian Cashman (and indeed no other GM) unable to swing that deal, the Yankees now find themselves in Miami playing these same Marlins — although they’re projected to miss Sandy by one day.The Marlins have taken advantage of the lost seasons by Atlanta and Washington, clawing themselves close to respectability
at 52-55. They won’t be a serious postseason contender, but you’re starting to see some pieces on this roster that could be valuable long term (though they did trade right fielder Jesús Sánchez to the Astros). For the Yankees, they get another impact pitcher back on Sunday, one who will be making his 2025 debut at long last.
All times below Eastern.
Friday — Carlos Rodón vs. Janson Junk (7:10pm)
It’s hard to think of a more appropriately named pitcher in the game today than Junk, 29, who was a Yankees draft pick back in 2017 and sent to the Angels in a 2021 Trade Deadline swap for Andrew Heaney. Junk has a more than respectable 3.28 ERA in 60.1 innings across the rotation and bullpen, despite just an 18 percent strikeout rate. Although his fastball doesn’t fool guys much, a slider, sweeper, and curve combination means he features plenty of movement to keep hitters off balance. Junk won’t pop the gun, but the ball will be moving around a lot in the zone — his 2.5-percent walk rate is the best in baseball, minimum 60 innings.
Meanwhile, Rodón has cooled off somewhat from his All Star pace of May and June, but eight strikeouts in 5.1 against Philly last weekend should indicate the stuff is still there. Regression comes for all of us, but in Carlos’ case he’s had just one bad start in the last month-plus. He hasn’t been stellar lately, but he’s become much more reliable than he was in previous years with the Yankees.
Saturday — Cam Schlittler vs. Eury Pérez (4:10pm)
He’s the best of pitching, he’s the worst of pitching. Schlittler has impressed with certain of his tools in his first three MLB starts, but the big problem is those walks. The rookie lost on Monday against Tampa Bay in no small part to the four walks in 4.1 innings, a rate that isn’t sustainable no matter how many 100-mph fastballs you throw. As the sign in the Nationals’ spring complex used to say, I don’t care how hard you throw ball four.
Pérez is arguably the crown jewel of the Marlins’ organization, carefully managed and protected and still battling injuries at the same time (he just returned in June from Tommy John surgery). His 3.07 ERA and 2.75 FIP will raise eyebrows from anyone in the game, a huge factor in that being his four-seam fastball, one of the best heaters in the game. If there’s a weakness in Pérez’s game, its timing up the fastball — he features some of the worst pulled fly ball rates in baseball. Pulled fly balls are where the runs are, so getting around the fastball is key, even if it’s easier said than done.
Sunday — Luis Gil vs. Edward Cabrera (1:40pm)
The prodigal son returns. After winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2024, Luis Gil will finally have a chance for an encore performance. He hasn’t been on an MLB mound all season, battling a lat injury that the Yankees have understandably been conservative with. It’s a cliché to say he’s a deadline acquisition, but if Gil can come close to repeating last year’s work — a 3.50 ERA and 97-mph fastball — he boosts the rotation a whole lot more than someone like Marcus Stroman does.
Edward Cabrera is having kind of a breakthrough season for himself, with a 3.35 ERA and 3.68 FIP. We’ve seen flashes of strong ERAs before, often undercut by bad home run or walk rates. So far in 2025, he’s brought both those rates into healthier levels, and if Sandy Alcantara returns to form, suddenly Cabrera might be the best No. 3 pitcher in MLB. Like Sandy, he was asked about in trade talks this July, but Miami elected to hold onto him.
More from pinstripealley.com:
- Yankees acquire Doval, Caballero at Trade Deadline buzzer
- Yankees get both quantity and quality in upgrading bullpen
- Yankees Trade Deadline Coverage
- Aaron Judge heading to the IL with a flexor strain
- Yankees 2025 draft tracker: 18 of 19 draftees sign
- Pinstripe Alley’s Top 100 Yankees
- 2000 Yankees Diary: The 25th Anniversary of MLB’s Last Three-peat
