The Athletic | Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal: The Yankees are desperate for catching help at the deadline and, according to Rosenthal and Sammon, Cincinnati Reds’ Tyler Stephenson could become an alternative for them. The soon-to-be-30 backstop boasts a 92 wRC+ this year and a 104 mark for his career. The Bombers are also said to be following Ryan Jeffers closely, but they have a lot of competition.
New York Daily News | Pete Sblendorio: Will Warren, who has made 19 starts for the 2026 Yankees, made a surprise
relief appearance on Wednesday night in his first game of the second half. He got the ball in the ninth inning in a save situation, and even though he surrendered a single to the first batter he saw and walked the last one, he gave his team two outs in a gutsy performance in an unfamiliar role. Sblendorio wonders if the right-hander, who boasts a 4.00 ERA for the season, could be a factor in the bullpen: his velocity was up in comparison to what it usually averages in starts, and he might be squeezed out of a rotation spot, so it might be a worthwhile experiment. For now, he has been announced as Sunday’s starter.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: The Yankees are always on the lookout for relief pitching help, and while it’s not the most pressing need at the moment, the thought of getting Mason Miller via trade from the San Diego Padres is surely exciting. Phillips explains that while George Lombard Jr. should be off limits, the Yankees have enough pieces to complete a deal if they decide to pursue one, identifying the fact that the Friars would love controllable starting pitching and the Bombers have Warren, Clarke Schmidt, Elmer Rodríguez, Carlos Lagrange, Ben Hess, Bryce Cunningham, Chase Hampton, Thatcher Hurd and Henry Lalane. He listed other potential pieces that might interest San Diego: Dax Kilby, Jasson Domínguez, and Spencer Jones. The likelihood of a deal is still low, though, as the Padres would have to be ‘blown away’ by an offer to consider parting with the star closer.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The league’s official site posted a piece with every team’s deadline approach. Hoch wrote that the Yankees are expected to pursue a platoon partner for Austin Wells, another bat as cover for Aaron Judge’s uncertain injury situation, and a swing-and-miss reliever.
