Veteran Cardinals Pitcher Emerging as Potential Yankees Trade Target
Though the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals rarely make trades, a deal between the two storied franchises could be on the table if the Yankees are serious about salvaging their season. One name reportedly on their radar: veteran pitcher Miles Mikolas.
Mikolas, a two-time All-Star known for his consistency and durability, could be a strong fit for New York’s injury-depleted rotation. Since 2018, Mikolas has started at least 30 games in every full season and made nine appearances during the shortened 2020 campaign. With ace Gerrit Cole out for the year due to elbow surgery and Luis Gil also sidelined, the Yankees are in dire need of reliable arms.
Friday’s game further highlighted the Yankees’ pitching woes, with Marcus Stroman leaving early due to a knee issue after giving up five runs in the first inning of a 9-1 loss to the Giants. Combined, Stroman, Carlos Carrasco, and Will Warren have a -1.0 WAR and have surrendered 28 earned runs over just 30 innings.
Clarke Schmidt is expected back soon from a shoulder injury, but the rotation remains unstable.
Mikolas, who will turn 37 in August, isn’t without his flaws. He had a 5.35 ERA over 32 starts last year—his highest since rejoining MLB in 2018—and has allowed at least 25 home runs in each of the past three seasons. Still, given the Yankees’ current state, they can’t afford to be overly selective.
Mikolas is in the final year of a $55.7 million, three-year contract, and he has experience playing for a team with high expectations—something that could help in a high-pressure Yankees environment.
Historically, the Yankees and Cardinals have completed 26 trades since 1906, the latest being the 2022 deal that sent pitcher Jordan Montgomery to St. Louis in exchange for outfielder Harrison Bader.
Though the season is still young, the Yankees may need to act quickly. If they want to steady their rotation, initiating trade talks for Mikolas might be a necessary step.
