Spring training is a time typically too early to consider trades or other ways to obtain additional major-league players, but unfortunate circumstances can suddenly force teams to seek help. Take, for example, the season-ending UCL damage Salvador Perez suffered in spring camp last year–the KC Royals hadn’t been searching for catching help before, but the injury triggered a backstop search that soon ended with the signing of free agent Martin Maldonado.
Now, it’s the New York Yankees, a strong team expected to make a deep playoff run, who find themselves compelled to soon solve problems caused by recent injuries to their starting rotation.