The 2025 Major League Baseball season hasn’t even started yet, but it’s already full of big changes. Some teams have made major moves to improve their chances early, whereas others are dealing with problems caused by injuries.
Right now, the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers are three of the most active and talked-about teams in the league.
One of the biggest moves so far came from the Brewers. They traded their star closer, two-time All-Star Devin Williams, to the Yankees.
In return, Milwaukee received 30-year-old left-handed starting pitcher Nestor Cortes, who made the All-Star team in 2022, and 25-year-old infielder Caleb Durbin, a young player known for his speed, solid hitting, and ability to play several positions on the field.
- The Brewers traded closer Devin Williams to the Yankees for starter Nestor Cortes and versatile infielder Caleb Durbin, a move praised by MLB insider Jim Bowden.
- The Yankees are facing a serious pitching shortage after injuries to Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt, leading to potential trade talks with the Dodgers.
- Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin, a former All-Star, is seen as a strong fit for the Yankees, with a deal possibly involving outfielder prospect Everson Pereira.
Brewers’ Trade Adds Depth and Experience
This trade was important for Milwaukee. Devin Williams had been one of the best closers in baseball, and losing him was not easy. But the Brewers gained players who can help them right away.
Nestor Cortes is 30 years old and has pitched in the major leagues for several years. He was an All-Star in 2022 and is expected to be a top starting pitcher for the Brewers in 2025. Although he struggled in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, his past performance shows he can go a long way if he stays healthy.
Caleb Durbin is a rising player who has had a solid Spring Training. In 52 at-bats, he has a batting average of .250 and an OPS of .726. He has hit 2 home runs, driven in 7 runs, and stolen 7 bases. More importantly, Durbin can play different positions in the field, making him a useful option on the roster.
Baseball insider Jim Bowden from The Athletic called this trade the Brewers’ “Best Move” of the offseason. He said Cortes could help the starting rotation, and Durbin was a strong addition as a utility infielder.
Besides the trade, the Brewers signed left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana to a one-year contract worth $4.25 million. Even though they lost key players like Williams and shortstop Willy Adames, the Brewers still have Christian Yelich and Brandon Woodruff. If they stay healthy, Milwaukee has a strong chance to reach the playoffs again.
Yankees Face Major Pitching Problems
On the other hand, the Yankees are facing serious trouble in their starting rotation. Before the season even started, they lost three pitchers—Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt.
Gerrit Cole, the team’s top pitcher, is out for the entire season due to Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil will miss several months with a lat strain. Clarke Schmidt has both back and shoulder problems and may start the season on the injured list.
Due to the injuries, the Yankees are left with very few reliable starters. Right now, only Max Fried and Carlos Rodon are fully healthy, so that’s forced the Yankees to look for help through trade.
One possible option is Ranger Suarez of the Philadelphia Phillies. Suarez is 29 years old and coming off a strong season. In 2024, he had a record of 12-8 with a 3.46 ERA. He gave up 140 hits and struck out 145 batters over 150.2 innings. He also made his first All-Star appearance.
Since 2018, Suarez has posted a career ERA of 3.42. He has been a full-time starter for the past three seasons. However, he is currently on the injured list with a back problem. Even though he is expected to return soon, the Phillies might not want to trade him yet.
According to Christopher Kline of FanSided, Suarez could become a trade target because he will be a free agent after this season. The Phillies have long-term starters already under contract, including Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo. They also have top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, who may join the rotation this year.
Even with these options, Phillies President Dave Dombrowski usually chooses to keep important players, and some of the team’s large contracts—such as Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto, and Max Kepler—will expire after the season. So, the Phillies may keep Suarez unless they fall out of the playoff race.
This means the Yankees may have to wait until the trade deadline to consider Suarez. In the meantime, they need another solution.
Dodgers Could Trade Pitcher to Yankees
That brings us to the Dodgers. Unlike the Yankees, Los Angeles has too many starting pitchers. Their rotation for 2025 includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, and Dustin May. Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to pitching in May and will be added as the sixth starter.
MLB expert Sarah Langs reported that both Ohtani and Yamamoto are projected to have over 150 strikeouts this season. With this much talent, the Dodgers can afford to trade one of their pitchers.
One name that stands out is Tony Gonsolin. The 30-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2022 when he went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA. However, in 2023, he struggled with injuries and finished with an 8-5 record and a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts. He then had Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2024.
Gonsolin returned this spring and showed promise by pitching three scoreless innings. He will make $5.4 million in 2025 and still have one more year of team control after that. This makes him an affordable and useful option for the Yankees, who immediately need a starter.
A possible trade could send Yankees outfield prospect Everson Pereira to the Dodgers in exchange for Gonsolin. Pereira is 23 years old and posted an OPS of .859 in 40 Triple-A games last year. If the Dodgers make this deal, Pereira could be a backup in case Andy Pages struggles in center field.
The Dodgers had originally planned to use a six-man rotation to manage pitcher workloads, especially with Ohtani and Yamamoto. But recent updates suggest they may start with five pitchers until Ohtani returns. They also have extra arms like Bobby Miller, Walker Buehler, Roki Sasaki, Landon Knack, and others waiting for their chance.
Because of this depth, trading Gonsolin would not hurt the Dodgers. Instead, it could help the Yankees cover for the loss of Cole and Gil.
