Yankees Reportedly Will Be In Mix To Land Cy Young Award Winner In Blockbuster Trade

New York reportedly could look to land a former Cy Young Award winner this offseason

The New York Yankees need to address the starting rotation this offseason.

New York will be building around Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortés but need to add at least two hurlers this offseason. The Yankees have been linked to multiple top-tier starters already in free agency but haven't made a move yet. While free agency may be the most likely way of improving the rotation, the Yankees could turn to the trade market as well.

One player the club reportedly could be in the mix to land this offseason in a blockbuster trade is Milwaukee Brewers star Corbin Burnes, according to The Athletic's Jim Bowden. 

"Corbin Burnes is also a free agent after next season, and the Brewers do not seem to have an appetite for extending him with a contract north of $100 million, so there's a strong possibility they will trade him this winter if they can get an enticing package of pitching prospects in return," Bowden said. "However, to make a trade, they'd probably have to wait until top free-agent pitchers such as Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Sonny Gray find new homes. Burnes, 29, logged a 3.39 ERA last season in 32 starts, with 200 strikeouts in 192 2/3 innings.

"He's made three consecutive All-Star teams and finished top seven or better in the National League Cy Young voting in all three of those seasons, winning the award in 2021. Several big-market teams, including the (Los Angeles Dodgers), Yankees, and (Philadelphia Phillies), would love to land Burnes even though they'd control him for only one year."

Landing Burnes would be a home run for the Yankees. He is just 29 years old and already is a three-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner. Burnes took home the 2021 National League Cy Young Award and has a career 3.26 ERA in six seasons. Milwaukee will be listening to trade offers for Burnes and the Yankees have the prospect capital to get a deal done and the money to sign him to an extension.

Burnes had a 3.39 ERA in 2023 across 32 starts across 193 2/3 innings pitched. He is the exact type of pitcher New York needs to help get the club back to the postseason.