The New York Yankees could have a significant dilemma on their hands in the near future. So far this season, the team has navigated injuries to key starting pitchers extremely well. Beginning the campaign with a four-man rotation, New York currently leads Major League Baseball with allowing just 2.62 runs per game. The pitching staff also boasts a combined 2.50 ERA through the first 13 games.
Aces Max Fried and Cam Schlittler are receiving plenty of attention, and rightly so. However, newly acquired starter Ryan Weathers and veteran Will Warren have also performed well. Nevertheless, Luis Gil’s place in the rotation is precarious at best. The former Rookie of the Year winner began 2026 in AAA, but was called up to pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 10.
The star’s debut did not go as planned. Gil gave up three earned runs in just four innings of work. After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone specifically noted the pitcher’s inconsistent command. Along with giving up three hits, including a home run, Gil also walked three batters on the night. Being able to throw strikes was not the starter’s only notable issue against the Rays.
As The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner points out, Gil’s fastball velocity was down a bit. According to Baseball Savant, the pitcher’s four-seamer averaged 95.1 MPH on April 10. This is 1.5 MPH slower than what he averaged during his successful rookie campaign. Kirschner believes that the two concerns mean that “the clock is ticking” on Gil to turn things around or face a potential move out of New York.
New York Yankees Previously Discussed Blockbuster Trade Involving Luis Gil
GettyLuis Gil has struggled with consistency since his rookie season.
With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon expected to return to the New York Yankees’ rotation soon, Gil could soon emerge as a trade candidate. This would not be the first time that the starter was linked with a move. New York Post reporter Jon Heyman previously reported that the Houston Astros wanted Gil as part of a package for superstar Kyle Tucker in December 2024. This came just a few months after the pitcher collected the RoY award.
According to Heyman, the Astros were also discussing shipping Tucker to the Chicago Cubs at the time. Ultimately, Houston opted to trade the outfielder to Chicago in a deal centered around infielder Issac Parades. After the trade was announced, YES analyst Jack Curry claimed that the Yankees failed to get Tucker because they did not want to lose Gil. New York chased Tucker once again in free agency this past winter, but failed to sign the star.
New York’s Starting Rotation Still in Solid Shape
Assuming Gil would hit the trade market, he would still have suitors. The Cubs and Atlanta Braves are also dealing with early-season injury woes in their starting pitching. However, the Yankees will almost certainly not receive a similar return as All-Star slugger Kyle Tucker.
Hindsight is 20/20, though. Even with Gil struggling, the Yankees still have one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball. With Cole and Rodon set to strengthen the pitching staff even further, the disappointing situation regarding Gil will likely not seem as severe.
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