Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) reacts after giving up a hit during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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“I’m prepared for the worst”: Yankees’ Brian Cashman bracing for serious Gerrit Cole injury

Yankees are not optimistic on Gerrit Cole's injury

The New York Yankees’ 2025 season hasn’t even begun, yet the team is already scrambling to hold things together. A wave of injuries has hit their roster, weakening both their rotation and lineup. And now, the worst-case scenario might be unfolding: Gerrit Cole’s elbow is once again a concern, and the outlook is anything but promising.

For the second straight spring, Cole is dealing with elbow trouble. Last year, he managed to avoid surgery but still missed three months of the season. Now, he’s undergoing further tests to determine the severity of the issue, and there’s a growing sense that Tommy John surgery could be on the table.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman isn’t exactly radiating optimism. Speaking with reporters, he acknowledged the grim reality of the situation.

Brian Cashman on Cole’s elbow.
“I’m prepared for the worst, but we’ll see how it plays out.”#Yankees
— David Lennon (@DPLennon) March 9, 2025

“I’m prepared for the worst, but we’ll see how it plays out,” Cashman said, via Newsday’s David Lennon.

Cole himself didn’t sound much more confident, admitting he’s anxious about what the imaging might reveal. At 34, the right-hander has been a workhorse throughout his career, rarely missing starts across his stints with the Yankees, Houston Astros, and Pittsburgh Pirates. However, last season, that durability took a hit, as he was limited to just 17 starts due to his elbow issues.

In 2024, Cole posted an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA, 1.126 WHIP, and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, contributing a 2.0 WAR. He followed that up with a strong postseason, going 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA over five starts. But if he’s sidelined for an extended stretch in 2025, the Yankees’ rotation will be under serious strain.

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If Cole is out, newly acquired Max Fried would step up as the team’s ace. Behind him, New York would be forced to lean on Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and possibly Will Warren. Given the Yankees’ recent injury woes, that depth could be tested sooner rather than later.

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.