“I think falling short in the World Series will stay with me until I die.” Right after losing in 2024, Aaron Judge made it clear that he would not settle for anything less than a winning title. The New York Yankees’ leader knows what it takes to win. He also knows what the team is missing. Now, with Gerrit Cole out for the year, the team is in shambles. The captain needs to act fast.

Aaron Judge is on his mission. That is why his focus is on Sandy Alcántara, the Miami Marlins’ ace. Alcántara is not just any starter. The talent in 2022 guided the team in innings pitched at 228.2 and posted a 2.28 ERA. He is a true workhorse, something the New York Yankees desperately need. “They went into spring training with the best rotation… but they do not have depth anymore. The only two guys who could be traded are Dylan Cease and Sandy Alcántara. And I do not know that the Yankees have what it takes to get them,” Joel Sherman said.

However, there is an issue. Alcántara will not become a free agent until 2028. He is owed $17.3 million in 2025 and 2026, with a $21 million club option for 2027. That makes the star a valuable trade chip in MLB. The Marlins will not give him up easily. If the Bronx needs him, the team will need to pay a steep price. Reports highlight that it would take at least two top-five prospects, like Jasson Domínguez, Anthony Volpe, and Austin Wells. Would the New York Yankees think of parting with them?

Another issue? There is not much time to fix it. The longer the Yankees wait, the more leverage the Marlins gain. Despite missing 2024 because of Tommy John surgery, Sandy Alcántara still carries enormous value. The talent threw 184.2 in 2023 before his injury. This is more than any Yankee starter over that span. If Alcántara proves he is healthy, competitors will line up. That is where things get intricate.

The New York Yankees can not afford to hesitate

Hesitation could indeed have cost the Yankees everything. Just look at what is left of the rotation. Carlos Rodón is available. He posted a 3.96 ERA in 2024 but still has not regained his All-Star form. In addition, the New York Yankees has Clarke Schmidt. Despite a respectable 4.64 ERA in 2023, he lost the charm and got just a 2.86 ERA in 2024. There is a scope with Marcus Stroman, who struggled with injuries in the past and played very effectively in 2024. He signed with the team ahead of the 2024 campaign and made 29 starts among his 30 appearances. Stroman went 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA, recording 113 strikeouts and 60 walks across 154 2/3 innings.

Max Fried knows the truth—no one can replace Gerrit Cole. “At the end of the day, no one is Gerrit Cole, right?” he admitted. He understands the weight now resting on his shoulders. But while he’s a two-time top-five Cy Young finisher, he’s never been tasked with leading a rotation solo. Even at his peak in 2022, he logged 185.1 innings—a solid mark but nowhere near Cole’s standard 200+. In 2023, the Yankees leaned on Cole’s 209 innings of dominance. Now, that security blanket is gone.

Aaron Judge has set the standard—championship or bust. But without another ace, that mission feels like a long shot. The Yankees’ rotation is now a patchwork of uncertainty. No one wins alone, and banking on injury-prone arms is a dangerous game. Enter Sandy Alcántara—the perfect solution, but at a steep price. The Yankees have the prospects to get it done. The real question is: Are they willing to pull the trigger? With their championship window shrinking, waiting isn’t a

Will they go all in? Will the team watch their best shot at replacing Cole slip away? What do you think—do the Yankees need to push their chips to the center, or is the price for Alcántara just too high?