Yankees could keep tabs on refined former All-Star pitcher ahead of trade deadline

Perez is 1-1 in six games played with a 2.86 ERA and 27 strikeouts this year. The 2022 All-Star has played at least 32 games in his last three seasons prior. Going off of that baseline, the 33-year-old is on pace for 143 strikeouts, which would be the second-highest of his career and would finish just a tick below all of the Yankees’ five core guys in the rotation. His 1.356 WHIP has not been brag-worthy, but he’s given the Pirates good production otherwise.

Perez is producing in line with the Yankees’ standout pitching core

New York’s pitching staff is doing a commendable job on the mound through 31 games. All five including Carlos Rodon (30 K), Nestor Cortes (37 K), Clarke Schmidt (34 K), Luis Gil (35 K), and Marcus Stroman (32K) all have at least 32 K’s.

The Yankees could strengthen their unit even further by adding a sixth arm in support of Cole once he returns, and Perez, like all other strong pitchers linked to the team, would get his biggest chances to shine while Cole remains out until at least the month of June, and be as good an end-of-the-rotation reinforcement as there is among names circulating in potential trade reports.