Yankees Face Rotation Crisis as Injuries Pile Up

One of the biggest storylines of Spring Training has been the injury cloud hanging over the New York Yankees.

Ace Gerrit Cole has been lost for the season due to upcoming Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, is expected to miss at least three months with a lat injury. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton is dealing with injuries to both elbows — injuries that he stated could end his season if surgery was necessary.

On Tuesday, general manager Brian Cashman spoke openly about the adversity facing the team and the lack of options available at this time:

“This time of year, very little is available. Normally the more significant opportunities don’t exist until the trade deadline. We’ve had these conversations many times over: You hope that you can avoid injuries early from spring training up through the draft, because going outside the organization is that much more difficult to do.”

Many people in the industry questioned whether Cole was playing with fire when he returned to the mound last season. The former Cy Young winner battled an elbow injury prior to the 2024 campaign and didn’t make his season-debut until June 19. Now, Cole’s next appearance in a Yankee uniform will not come until 2026.

As for Gil, New York has said that the budding star will be out a minimum of six weeks due to his lat injury. Once he is able to resume his throwing program, the Yankees stated he will need at least six additional weeks to build up.

Injuries to New York’s No. 1 (Cole) and No. 3 (Gil) starters have left the club with a starting rotation consisting of Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Marcus Stroman. As for the No. 5 spot, the team may turn to Will Warren or Carlos Carrasco — the latter is a non-roster invite.

“We’ve taken a number of hits in the starting rotation; certainly can’t afford to take too many more,” Cashman said. “So if we can obviously rely on what we have and explore what’s outside at the same time — but this time of year, it makes it difficult.”

“It makes it more difficult when somebody’s not involved in a camp — our camp or anywhere else,” Cashman said. “With the window narrowing on the season, ours starting on March 27th, that makes it more difficult to onboard anybody, especially pitching. … It just takes a while to get guys going and ramped up and into competition.”

Possible free agent options include veterans Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. In terms of the trade market, Arizona’s Jordan Montgomery may be an enticing target. However, he is coming off a very poor season.

Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara is expected to be moved before the trade deadline with the Miami Marlins expected to finish at the bottom of the NL East, and San Diego’s Dylan Cease continues to be involved in the rumor mill, as well. The Yankees, however, are over the luxury tax threshold. As a result, taking on money would result in tax penalties.

“(When) it’s double the money, obviously it makes it less likely to be a more realistic chance because we’re already so committed,” Cashman said. “But we’ll see. We’ll walk through and talk through everything that presents itself. But again, it’s going to be very limited at this portion of the campaign.”