CHICAGO – A morning after what seemed inevitable actually came to fruition – the Dodgers acquiring Tarik Skubal – the Yankees more or less shrugged their shoulders.
“Not shocked,” manager Aaron Boone said at Wrigley Field. “You knew Skubal, it seemed like he was available the last few days. So not shocked, knowing the system the Dodgers had.”
The Yankees and Brewers were viewed as the other two teams at the finish line trying to land the Tigers ace, The Post’s Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman reported, but instead the rich got richer as Skubal went to the two-time defending World Series champions to bolster a stacked rotation.
The Yankees’ biggest need is bats, but in a market not flush with difference-making hitters, they could have hammered a strength by upgrading their rotation.
As it is, they hope to enter a playoff series with a rotation of Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Gerrit Cole, with Carlos Rodón (if he can get healthy) and Ryan Weathers or Will Warren in the wings.
“I think we have a great rotation,” Schlittler said. “Good for [the Dodgers], really. I don’t really have an opinion on it. I don’t really care that much. Good for them. We still got a job to do. Got a lot to focus on before even worrying about playing that team again.
“I still like our chances, fully healthy, against a lineup like that and a rotation like that. I don’t know anything about the prospects really, but yeah, good for the Dodgers, I guess.”
To acquire Skubal, the Dodgers sent a trio of prospects – outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith – to the Tigers, who entered Sunday 2 1/2 games back of the final AL wild card.
“They’re playing by the rules,” Boone said. “They’re trying to better their team. Every team has decisions to make this time of year, where we’re dealing with a bunch of teams deciding if they’re buyers, they’re sellers or somewhere in between. Clearly they’re buyers this year.
“I’m with the New York Yankees and my job is to help us be the best we can be. So I don’t get caught up in good, bad, indifferent. They’re trying to get back to and win a World Series and they made a move they think will help that.”
Instead of using prospect capital to land Skubal, the Yankees will try to use those resources to find help for their lineup and bullpen, which have combined to waste terrific starting pitching too often of late.
“I know a ton of conversations are happening,” Boone said. “How they land, where they end up, do you ultimately get to a point where a deal is made? You just never can tell. Really, it’s certainly not my job or our coaches or our players’ job. Our focus is trying to finish off a good road trip here against a really good team. That’s where our focus lies.”
