Jun 19, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) watches the game from the dugout in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

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Gerrit Cole injury: External pitching options for Yankees to consider

No Luis Gil, potentially no Gerrit Cole...

In a span of just a few days, Yankees fans have been hit with a string of brutal injury updates – Luis Gil, Gerrit Cole, and Giancarlo Stanton – all of which could be considered devastating. With Opening Day approaching, the Yankees’ once-stacked rotation now looks dangerously thin, and the team may have no choice but to seek reinforcements.

The Yankees were already set to start the season without Luis Gil, who is sidelined until at least late May or early June with a lat strain. Now, ace Gerrit Cole is dealing with elbow discomfort and has undergone an MRI, with the results sparking concern within the organization. Cole, who missed a chunk of last season due to a similar issue, admitted that he was “concerned” about what the tests might reveal. If he misses significant time, New York’s pitching depth takes another major hit.

How does the Yankees rotation look right now?

Assuming Gerrit Cole is not ready for Opening Day, as things stand, the Yankees’ rotation could look like this heading into the season:

Max Fried (LHP)
Carlos Rodon (LHP)
Marcus Stroman (RHP)
Clarke Schmidt (RHP)
Will Warren (RHP)

The addition of Max Fried this offseason was a major boost, but losing Cole and Gil significantly weakens the depth. Will Warren, one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, is already being thrust into the mix due to the injuries. Beyond that, internal options like Carlos Carrasco (NRI), Allan Winans (waiver claim), and JT Brubaker (currently injured) don’t offer much reliability for a team with championship aspirations.

If the Yankees decide their internal depth isn’t enough, they’ll have to look outside the organization. However, with the season about to begin, free-agent options are scarce, and the trade market may be the only viable path for a meaningful upgrade.

Free agent options

The free-agent market has been largely picked over, leaving few inspiring choices. Some names still available include:

Kyle Gibson (RHP, 37 years old) – 4.24 ERA in 169 ⅔ innings for the Cardinals last season
Lance Lynn (RHP, 37 years old) – 3.84 ERA in 117 ⅓ innings for the Cardinals
Marco Gonzales (LHP, 33 years old) – 4.54 ERA in seven starts for the Pirates
Spencer Turnbull (RHP, 32 years old) – 2.65 ERA in limited action for the Phillies

None of these options move the needle significantly, making them more of a stopgap if Cole is only out for a short to mid-term absence.

Potential trade targets

If Cole’s absence stretches longer, the Yankees may need to get aggressive on the trade market. Some potential trade targets include:

Dylan Cease (RHP, Padres) – The Padres are reportedly open to moving Cease as he enters his final year before free agency. He finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting last year, striking out 224 batters over 189 ⅓ innings.
Sandy Alcantara (RHP, Marlins) – Coming off Tommy John surgery, Alcantara has looked strong in spring training. If Miami continues its teardown, he could be available. He was the unanimous NL Cy Young winner in 2022.
Michael King (RHP, Padres) – A familiar name for Yankees fans, King transitioned into a full-time starter last season with a 2.95 ERA over 173 ⅔ innings. If San Diego is in sell mode, a reunion could make sense.
Erick Fedde (RHP, Cardinals) – After revitalizing his career in Korea, Fedde returned to MLB last season and put up a solid 3.86 FIP over 177 ⅓ innings. He’s on an affordable contract and could be a low-cost option.

ALSO READ: Giancarlo Stanton injury update: What’s next for the Yankees veteran?

The Yankees are hoping for the best with Cole, but if the news is bad (which given their recent luck and trend, it will likely be), they need to act fast. With an AL East gauntlet ahead, Brian Cashman may have to make an aggressive move to keep the Yankees’ championship hopes alive.

Gerrit Cole

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.