At the trade deadline, the New York Yankees had several needs, but starting rotation help wasn’t the most urgent. Their priorities were to acquire a bat, which they did with Jazz Chisholm Jr., and bolster their bullpen, addressed by signing Mark Leiter Jr. Although starting pitching wasn’t their top priority, it was still a need.

The Yankees’ rotation had been one of the top in the majors for most of the first half of the season, even without Gerrit Cole. However, their performance has declined as the season progressed. Since June 1, their ERA of 5.49 ranks 28th in the majors, just ahead of the 43-73 Miami Marlins and the 42-74 Colorado Rockies, who play at Coors Field.

As of June 1, four of the Yankees’ five starters have ERAs over 5.00, with Luis Gil being the only exception at 4.31. Despite hopes that Gerrit Cole will improve his performance, there are serious concerns about struggling arms like Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes Jr., and Marcus Stroman. Stroman, in particular, has a 6.32 ERA since June, the fourth-highest among pitchers with at least 40 innings in that period.

Yankees reportedly chickened out of Blake Snell talks for inexcusable reason

While the rotation isn’t as poor as its recent performance might suggest, it is not up to elite standards. The Yankees should have considered adding to their rotation if the right pitcher was available.

Reports indicate that the Yankees were interested in acquiring starting pitching help. They not only backed out of what seemed to be serious discussions for Jack Flaherty (with some justification) but also chose to forgo adding Blake Snell, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, for reasons that may be difficult for Yankees fans to accept.

“The Yankees — one of at least six teams to check in, along with the Orioles, Dodgers, Padres, Cubs and Rangers — seemed worried about the $30M player option, but two rival GMs opined it would take a ‘catastrophic’ or ‘debilitating’ injury for Snell to exercise it now, anyway,” Heyman said.

The Yankees did not strongly pursue Snell because they’re worried about him exercising the $30 million player option. Really? The Yankees, a team swimming in money, were unwilling to take Snell on because of a player option that he likely wouldn’t even exercise barring injury?

A reason for that might have to do with Juan Soto and the looming contract that the Yankees hope to be the team to give him, but is that really enough to get in the way of making a move that could help the Yankees win the World Series right now? This is the only guaranteed year they have with Soto. They could’ve and should’ve added Snell if the Giants were willing to give him up.