Yankees' AL East rival named top three Tarik Skubal landing spot

Yankees’ AL East rival named top three Tarik Skubal landing spot originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New York Yankees have the best winning percentage in the American League and one of the top starting rotations in baseball. 

The rotation, led by AL Cy Young candidate Cam Schlittler, is a major reason why the Yankees have a +123 run differential. 

At this year’s trade deadline, the Yankees could make their pitching staff even better, acquiring the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner from the Detroit Tigers. 

But there will be competition for Tarik Skubal, and another club from the AL East could be a better fit for his services, FanSided’s Chris Landers wrote Friday. 

“The Rays are not going to win games with their offense. If they want to sustain this strong start, they’re going to need to pitch at a very high level, and Skubal is obviously just about the highest you can get,” Landers wrote. “Tampa’s June swoon might talk their front office out of taking a big swing, but there are few cleaner on-field fits.” 

The Rays have three top 100 prospects they can offer the Tigers, and the Yankees have four, including shortstop George Lombard Jr. and flamethrower Calros Lagrange. 

MORE: Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agency

But New York’s front office may be hesitant to part with either one of them for a half-season rental, no matter how dominant Skubal is. 

The ideal outcome for the Yankees is that Skubal lands with a National League club. Facing him, Drew Rasmussen, and Shane McClanahan in a three-or five-game series would be a challenging feat. 

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