Injuries are an unfortunate reality of every spring training, and the Yankees might be the latest victim. Jeff Passan of ESPN reported this morning that star pitcher Gerrit Cole is having an MRI on his right elbow. He has had discomfort there and trouble recovering in between starts this spring. It is currently unclear how severe this injury is. However, it is a significant development regardless, both in the context of the Yankees chances of competing this season, as well as Dylan Cease and his trade value.
Cole’s Resume
Every baseball fan knows how good Gerrit Cole is. He is arguably the best pitcher in the sport and just won the American League Cy Young Award in 2023. Historically, Cole has been very durable and is the undisputed ace of a Yankees rotation with many question marks. He was the one pitcher in their rotation with zero concerns regarding durability and performance. That has now changed.
Yankees Rotation: Full Of Question Marks
The Yankees projected starting rotation after Cole is questionable at best. Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes Jr. have been wildly inconsistent throughout their careers and have performed poorly this spring. The Yankees did sign Marcus Stroman earlier this offseason, but he is not on Cole’s level. A significant injury to Cole would devastate the Yankees chances of winning anything this season.
Free Agent Alternatives
Blake Snell is also a significant factor in this equation. The 31-year-old two-time Cy Young award-winning left-hander is still a free agent, and the Yankees have been rumored as a suitor for him virtually all offseason long. Weeks ago, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Yankees offered Snell a six-year, $150 million contract in January, but he did not accept it. Jordan Montgomery is also a possible free-agent option for the Yankees, but there have not been many rumors tying those two parties together. The Yankees may go the free agent route to replace Cole should he be out, but nothing is imminent.
Immense Pressure To Win In New York
The Yankees expect to contend every year, and they have already traded for Juan Soto this offseason. He is only a Yankee for this season, so there is even more pressure for them to win this year given that there is no guarantee that he will remain in the Bronx. They could be in a very compromising spot if Cole’s injury is significant.
While no one wants to see a pitcher get hurt, Gerrit Cole’s injury could be the straw that broke the camel’s back regarding a potential Dylan Cease trade coming to fruition. If Cole is out for an extended period, the Yankees will absolutely need to acquire another top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher to lead their rotation. Cease could very well be that guy. Even if Cole avoids a significant injury, the Yankees could still use Cease.
Final Word
Pitching injuries during spring training were likely part of Chris Getz’s calculus when he held Dylan Cease for this long. He knew injuries would happen eventually, and as pitchers on contending teams get hurt, teams need replacements. Durable and affordable pitchers like Cease will always be attractive. The thought of Cease as a Yankee is not new, as he has been speculated as a fit in New York all offseason. The Yankees should be calling Getz any minute now.
