3 Big Pitching Targets For The Yankees, But It All Depends On Soto

Ah, Jon Heyman. You gotta hand it to the guy—he makes you click. 

The man is a clickbait Picasso, spinning vague headlines and speculative rumors into must-click gold. Remember “Arson Judge”? The internet burned for days! Now he’s back, and this time it’s all about the Yankees, Juan Soto, and ace pitchers. Spoiler: nobody knows anything, but somehow, we’re still here.

So, according to Heyman—our modern-day Nostradamus of the hot stove—the Yankees have “checked in” on Max Fried, Corbin Burnes, and Blake Snell. Translation? Someone in the Yankees’ front office probably Googled their Baseball Reference pages. But the big catch is this: whether the Yankees actually pursue one of these aces depends on if Soto re-signs. Yep, the entire pitching market apparently revolves around one guy. Classic Yankees drama.

Burnes is the top prize in my opinion, with projections putting his next contract north of $200 million. But wait—what if Max Fried, with his postseason pedigree and lefty magic, is actually the most sought-after arm? (Cue dramatic reality show music.) Fried isn’t likely to touch Burnes’ price tag, but he’s bringing serious heat on the market after declining the Braves’ qualifying offer. The Yankees, Giants, and Red Sox are all reportedly drooling over him.

Blake Snell? 

He’s just chilling, posting a solid 3.12 ERA, 145 strikeouts, and a 1.05 WHIP in 2024. He’s projected to get a modest (in MLB terms) five-year, $131 million deal, which makes him a relatively affordable Plan B. The Red Sox, despite having a respectable 2024 team ERA (because who doesn’t love a random stat drop?), might want to splurge. Beantown’s gotta keep up with the Yankees somehow, right?

Back to the Bronx, where Gerrit Cole’s triumphant return this year erased the immediate need for an ace. But let’s be honest: the Yankees collecting pitchers is like you collecting takeout menus. Do they need Fried, Burnes, or Snell? No. Do they want one? Absolutely. Picture Luis Gil, Carlos Rodón, Cole, and a shiny new toy like Fried—chef’s kiss. That’s rotation royalty.

But here’s the kicker: none of this happens unless Juan Soto decides he loves pinstripes enough to stay. If Soto bounces, the Yankees will pivot faster than a kid pretending they weren’t reaching for the last cookie. Suddenly, it’s all about pitching. Burnes! Snell! Fried! We’re signing them all! Or maybe just Googling their names again. Who knows…

And here’s the thing: you just read all of this, and I wrote it… all because of Jon Heyman. He’s the king of the vague-yet-enticing rumor mill. Is he often wrong? Oh, for sure. But he’s got us wrapped around his Twitter finger. Whether or not the Yankees pull off a blockbuster, one thing’s for sure: Jon Heyman is absolutely crushing his job. Now excuse me while I refresh his feed.