Cashman Details Failed Pursuit of Skubal and Rutschman as Yankees Complete Trade Deadline Moves

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman revealed Monday that the team engaged in talks with the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles regarding star pitcher Tarik Skubal and catcher Adley Rutschman, respectively, but could not reach agreements before the trade deadline passed. Cashman acknowledged that both organizations set asking prices the Yankees deemed too steep and ultimately pursued different paths to strengthen the roster.

Skubal landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, while Rutschman was dealt to the Boston Red Sox earlier Monday. The Yankees instead pivoted to acquiring left-handed hitter Luis Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals in exchange for four pitchers, followed by adding outfielder Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants in a three-player transaction.

Garcia, who batted a career-high .283 with the Nationals and led the league with a .560 slugging percentage while hitting 23 home runs and driving in 78 runs, was inserted into New York’s lineup at first base and batting third. Manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism about the 26-year-old’s potential in the Yankees’ ballpark, noting the team needed an offensive boost while waiting for injured stars to return.

Ramos contributed nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 74 games for the Giants before joining New York. The Yankees sent starting pitcher Henry LaLane and infielder Kaeden Kent to San Francisco in the transaction, with Ramos remaining under team control through 2030.

The moves come as the Yankees navigate injuries to Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Cody Bellinger. New York entered Monday’s game against St. Louis with a .232 batting average and had struggled offensively since Judge last appeared May 31.