General manager Brian Cashman later explained the reasons behind the failed deal. According to Cashman, the Detroit Tigers, who held Skubal's contract, demanded players the Yankees were not willing to part with, and the two teams could not find a way to agree on a trade.
Cashman confirmed that Detroit established a high asking price, and despite the Yankees' interest, they could not meet the Tigers' expectations. The Yankees tried to strike a deal but found the Tigers inconsistent in their approach. Cashman noted that the Tigers sometimes hinted the trade might not even happen, which led to a lack of progress.
Eventually, Detroit stopped negotiating and finalized a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cashman said the Tigers had specific requests the Yankees couldn't accept, though he refused to name the players in question. He acknowledged the Yankees were unable to compete at the level required and that the deal ultimately fell apart.
Yankees Still Made Moves
Despite not landing Skubal, the Yankees made two impactful trades before the deadline. On Sunday, they acquired power-hitting outfielder Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals. In return, the Yankees sent right-handed pitchers Yovanny Cruz, Jake Bird, Ben Grable, and Jack Cebert to Washington. This move strengthened their offense and added depth to their lineup.
Just before the 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Monday, the Yankees secured another addition, acquiring outfielder Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants. The trade sent left-handed pitcher Henry Lalane and infielder Kaeden Kent to the Giants. With these moves, the Yankees added significant talent to their roster for the second half of the season.