Jack Flaherty Trade Not Enough to Help Yankees World Series Hopes Amid MLB Rumors

Erik BeastonJuly 30, 2024

Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

The New York Yankees may be fresh off a 14-4 shellacking of the Philadelphia Phillies, thanks in large part to two home runs from new addition Jazz Chisholm Jr., but the team still needs considerable help elsewhere if it hopes to contend for a World Series.

The pitching will not get them to the dance as it currently stands, with reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole struggling with an ERA of 5.51, Nestor Cortes potentially on his way out, and Carlos Rodon doing little to improve the rotation.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Yankees have engaged the Detroit Tigers in conversations for starter Jack Flaherty.

Bob Nightengale @BNightengaleThe New York Yankees are in extensive trade talks for Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, and plan to trade starter Nestor Cortes if they land Flaherty.

While acquiring the red-hot righty will bolster that lineup and make it better than it is, it is not enough to turn the squad into legitimate World Series contenders.

Flaherty currently has a 2.95 ERA, 133 strikeouts, a WHIP of 0.96, and has pitched 106.2 innings this season. Most impressively, he is averaging over 11 strikeouts per nine innings.

Rob Friedman @PitchingNinjaJack Flaherty, 94mph Paint. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/uT6UDsWWPN

He is throwing some of his best stuff in 2024 for a bad Tigers team and would be of instant help to a Yankees rotation that has underperformed significantly.

But he is only one man.

For as strong as he has been this season, there is only so much he can do to realistically improve the most significant area of weakness on what has been an under-performing club for the last month and a half.

Unless Cole can shake off his uncharacteristically terrible year, which has been the result of injury and lack of command, and Cortes, Rodon, and Marcus Stroman can improve consistently, the team will continue to struggle at the mound.

Then there is the offense in which, unless their names are Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, no one is hitting.

Anthony Volpe is the next closest hitter with a .253 ERA.

Chisholm was a spark Monday night in Philadelphia but will have to prove he can provide that electric bat consistently before anyone anoints the Yankees’ offense as suddenly fixed. He is currently hitting .249 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 96 total hits.

Realistically, the Yankees need another bat, potentially another starter, and a reliever to really bolster a roster that was so-so on paper and has performed to that expectation, despite remaining in the playoff hunt.

If it was not for Judge and Soto at the plate, and Luis Gil on the mound, this season would be far uglier for the Bombers.