Yankees Need to Acquire Former Cy Young Winner Following Gerrit Cole Injury
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is facing a potential lengthy absence due to an injury. On Friday, Cole felt something in his arm after giving up six runs to the Minnesota Twins. After the game, he had a MRI on his right elbow. Speaking to reporters the next day, he said he was “concerned” with the results. If he is set to miss serious time, this will be a huge loss for the Yankees. Just a few days ago, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil was shut down with a lat injury that will cause him to miss three months. CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry released a list of players who the Yankees should target in the wake of this news, and one name mentioned was Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara is coming back from Tommy John surgery himself, as he missed all of the 2024 season recovering. Prior to that, he was one of the most dominant pitchers in the sport who won the 2022 NL Cy Young award. What would make Alcantara appealing for the Yankees is this would not be a one-year rental. He is currently under contract through the 2026 season, so he could essentially replace Cole in the rotation if Cole needs Tommy John surgery.
Updated Yankees rotation if Gerrit Cole injury leads to lengthy absence
Gerrit Cole underwent testing on his throwing elbow and will be seeking a second evaluation, per Brian Hoch. Aaron Boone and the New York Yankees hope it won’t cause him to miss a significant period.
Brian Cashman built the team to prevent runs after their lineup lost Juan Soto. They inked an eight-year deal with Max Fried, who’s pitched to a 3.07 career ERA. With Cole likely out to start 2025, Fried will likely fill in as the ace, and he’s more than capable of doing so.
After Fried, the Yankees rotation isn’t the best by any measure. Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and Marcus Stroman will follow the lefty. They have a few options for the final rotation spot. Eyes will be locked on those candidates for the rest of Spring Training.
Will Warren be the most likely arm to snag a rotation spot. The 25-year-old has pitched stellar this spring. He’s allowed just one run across three appearances. Warren tallied 11 strikeouts to just two walks across eight innings.
Last season, Warren struggled in his six games with New York, pitching to a 10.32 ERA. Over the offseason, he worked on his five-pitch arsenal, and early signs show it’s paying off. The young right-hander features a wicked slider with a ton of spin. He’ll need to continue pitching well in the spring to solidify his spot in the rotation.
If New York feels Warren needs more time in Triple-A, Carlos Carrasco could come into play. Cashman signed Carrasco to a minor-league deal. The 37-year-old has a legitimate chance at joining the rotation with the injuries to Cole and Gil. The 15-year veteran holds a 4.14 career ERA. In the last two seasons, he pitched to a 6.18 ERA.
