49ers Express Interest in Steelers’ Alex Highsmith as Trade Deadline Approaches
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a good problem to have at outside linebacker. With Alex Highsmith likely making his return to the lineup in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, the team must decide what to do with Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer. Both of who have played well in Highsmith's absence.
There might be a different solution, though.
49ers Want An Edge Rusher
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch opened up recently about the team's willingness to improve their roster before the trade deadline. Edge rusher has been the most talked-about position of need, and Lynch didn't shut down the idea when asked about it.
"I'm having a lot of conversations, a lot of good and productive ones,” Lynch said. "... If we find a way to make our football team better and it aligns, then we will not be shy on pulling the trigger."
The 49ers' only current options alongside superstar Nick Bosa are first-round pick Mykell Williams and Bryce Huff. They've been rumored as landing spots for teams at the bottom of the league like Miami Dolphins with Bradley Chubb or New York Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux. However, Pittsburgh may be a sneaky team to watch.
Steelers Have an Option
Highsmith is easily one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. He's overlooked many times because of what T.J. Watt has accomplished throughout his career, but for the former third-round pick has become one of the most dominant pieces of the defense, and is only 28 years old.
If Highsmith didn't suffer an ankle injury, forcing him to miss time early in the season, this conversation wouldn't be had. The Steelers wouldn't even be considering a trade for their star edge rusher, and would be viewing him and Watt as their starters with Herbig as their backup.
But Herbig took off with his opportunity. The 23-year-old has 2.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, plus a forced fumble.
49ers, Steelers Trade?
The Steelers could probably ask for a pretty penny by offering a player with higher value than any of the rumored teams. Highsmith is an established star in this league and could be the missing piece for the 49ers alongside Bosa.
With 36.5 career sacks and nine forced fumbles, he brings experience, proven worth and an affordable contract with him anywhere he goes. Meaning he could be the perfect fit for San Francisco.
Highsmith will only be paid $20 million next season and $21 million the season after that.
Maybe the 49ers are looking for lesser options, but if they want a star, and the Steelers are willing to part ways and hand Herbig the keys next to Watt, the two teams may have a trade on their hands before the deadline.
Yankees to Cut Ties With Ex-$130 Million MVP After Team’s Playoff Exit: Insider
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The New York Yankees are expected to make a major change.
The New York Yankees could be headed for a roster shakeup as the club heads into the offseason with plenty of decisions to make. New York could look to free agency for help in an attempt to return to contention.
The Yankees also have several of their own key players who will be free agents as well, including first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty report that the Yankees do not plan to re-sign Goldschmidt.
Instead, New York is expected to turn to Ben Rice to take over as the club’s new first baseman.
“The Yankees have eight players who are unrestricted free agents: Paul Blackburn, Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham, Amed Rosario, Austin Slater, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams and Ryan Yarbrough,” Kirschner and Kuty wrote in an October 8, 2025, story titled, “Three key offseason questions after Yankees’ playoff loss to Blue Jays.”
“They have two players who have a club option: Tim Hill ($3 million) and Jonathan Loáisiga ($5 million). Cody Bellinger has a $25 million player option that he’ll almost certainly decline to pursue a long-term deal,” Kirschner and Kuty added.
“Goldschmidt will not be re-signed, as Ben Rice is the club’s first baseman of the future.”
The Yankees Are Expected to Move on From 1B Paul Goldschmidt
Goldschmidt has an impressive resume over his 15-year MLB career, but the Yankees appear to be looking towards the future. The former MVP is a 7-time All-Star, 4-time Gold Glove winner and 5-time Silver Slugger.
Goldschmidt hit .274 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI and 76 runs in 145 appearances in 2025. The veteran played on a one-year, $12.5 million contract, a far cary from his previous five-year, $130 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Another team should be able to sign Goldschmidt to a favorable deal. Spotrac projects Goldschmidt’s market value is a one-year, $7 million contract.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone on Ben Rice: ‘He’s Proving Himself as a Really Formidable Hitter in This League’
Rice hit .255 with 26 home runs, 65 RBI and 74 runs in 138 appearances for the Yankees in 2025. Yankees manager Aaron Boone appeared to gain confidence in Rice throughout the season.
“I think we’re seeing the emergence of a true middle-of-the-order bat with power,” Boone said on September 21, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “He’s proving himself as a really formidable hitter in this league.”
Yankees 1B Paul Goldschmidt Did Not Rule Out Potentially Retiring
Goldschmidt sounded optimistic about continuing to play, but left the door open to potentially retiring. After the Yankees were eliminated, Goldschmidt discussed his future.
“I think I’d like to continue playing, but I hadn’t sat down and thought about it,” Goldschmidt explained on October 8, per Newsweek. “I was expecting to continue to play here and all that, but I still love playing.
“I still have fun out there. I still want to try to go in, love to compete, so we’ll have to see what happens. I’m thankful for my time here. I don’t know what the future’s going to hold. I just try to give everything I have every day. My fortune really came up short.”
