When Yankees fans heard the Luis Gil would miss considerable time this season there was a worry among the fanbase, but the rotation was deep, and injuries happen. Then, when Giancarlo Stanton had not one, but two elbow issue pop up. the grumbling of the fan base grew louder and louder. But, when the Gerrit Cole news broke this week the fan base went beyond groans or upset and right to pure despair.
The Yankees announced that Cole will not only miss time, but he is done for the year (and some of 2026) because he will undergo Tommy John surgery.
The 2023 AL Cy Young winner is thought to be the second most important Yankee on the team, after captain Aaron Judge, and when you look at Cole's age and this degree of an injury, many Yankees fans believe their window has closed.
Cole felt discomfort and went for diagnostic tests on his elbow last week. He told reporters he was “concerned” by the results but expressed went for a second opinion. That proved to be nothing more than delaying the inevitable.
This once deep rotation now faces plenty of question marks. Max Fried signed this offseason and Carlos Rodón make up a solid 1-2 punch (although both also had recent injuries). Clarke Schmidt is just starting to throw in spring training after an injury slowed his off season as well. That leaves Marcus Stroman, who just a few weeks ago was adamant that he was a starter because the Yankees toyed with making him a bullpen piece, and prospect Will Warren or Carlos Carrasco to round out the rotation.
The fan base has already been loud in asking Cashman to go get a starter Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins or Dylan Cease of the Padres. That hasn't been the Yankee way recently though. It might be more likely they sign a free agent like Lance Lynn as a stop gap and hope their young arms can hold up.
As for Cole he triggered his opt-out clause in November, but the two sides agreed to a four year and $144 million dollar deal.