It seemed inevitable from the moment that the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner complained about soreness on Thursday. Almost 12 months to the day after his first setback with his elbow, it was announced Monday that Gerrit Cole would require Tommy John surgery, knocking him out for 2025 and probably the start of the 2026 season. The injury leaves the Yankees rotation in shambles, what with 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil already ruled out for three months due to a lat strain. We’re just a couple of weeks removed from Marcus Stroman defiantly railing against opening the season in the pen. Well, he’s probably starting the third game of the season now.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE YANKEES ROTATION?
The Bombers still have two of the game’s highest-paid starters sitting atop their rotation in Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. Fried, who landed an eight-year, $218 million deal in free agency, is plugging along as usual this spring, but Rodón was still searching for regular-season form in his second Grapefruit League start, as his velocity was down 1.5-2 mph from last season. Rodón’s ERA rose as 2024 went along, but so did his strikeout rate; he fanned 30% of the batters he faced after the All-Star break, compared to 24% in the first half. That seems like a good omen for a guy who still has four years and $108 million left on his six-year deal.
Clarke Schmidt rates as the Yankees’ No. 3 starter, but since he’s been dealing with back soreness, he’s slated to debut in the sixth game of the regular season. Schmidt was stellar when healthy last year, amassing a 2.85 ERA in his 16 starts. An injury-free campaign from him now seems imperative for the Yankees.
Stroman dealt with diminished velocity throughout last season, but he kept it together nicely for four months, amassing a 3.64 ERA through the end of July. He then stumbled to a 6.15 ERA the rest of the way, even though his peripherals were better down the stretch than they were the first four months. His ceiling is lower than ever with his strikeout and groundball rates eroding, but at least he’s durable and will keep the team in games.
Currently auditioning for the fifth spot are prospect Will Warren and 37-year-old Carlos Carrasco, who has a 6.18 ERA in 41 starts the last two years. Warren was a disappointment in Triple-A last year, but he appears to be an improved pitcher this spring. He’s thus far allowed one run and posted an 11/0 K/BB in eight innings.
WHAT ABOUT OUTSIDE UPGRADES?
Even though…