Reds could turn a potential Yankees non-tender decision into a rotation upgrade

The non-tender deadline is fast approaching, meaning the free agent pool is about to get much larger. One name keep an eye on is New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt. The right-hander is likely to be moved off the Yankees' 40-man roster, and could be an absolute steal for the Cincinnati Reds if he returns to form following an injury-plagued stretch over the past three seasons.

Schmidt made just one appearance for New York in 2026. He suffered an elbow injury in 2025 that required Tommy John surgery, and spent most of last season rehabbing. He returned to the mound for the first time in late-August for the Yankees' Double-A affiliate. He logged a total of seven innings in five rehab…