Yankees Hit with Devastating Injuries to Cole, Stanton, and Gil

After being blasted in the 2024 World Series by the Los Angeles Dodgers, there was some optimism the New York Yankees would come back after a strong offseason with the hopes of making a second-straight appearance in the Fall Classic.

Despite not being able to re-sign Juan Soto, the Yankees made a quartet of universally-respected moves — inking ace LHP Max Fried, OF/INF Cody Bellinger, veteran slugger Paul Goldschmidt, and trading for elite closer Devin Williams.

On the surface, these moves were made to enhance a healthy preexisting roster. They weren’t executed to account necessarily for potentially season-ending injuries to Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, and Luis Gil.

Gil has been sidelined with a lat injury in his shoulder. Various reports conclude he’ll be out for at least three months — and perhaps until August. Gil was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2024 — not to mention an integral member of the rotation.

Stanton has been dealing with issues in both of his elbows. One report insists that they’re do to Stanton using a different bat last year. The Yankees are weighing options, and there’s a good chance Stanton would be sidelined indefinitely if the surgical route for both arms is exercised.

Speaking of which, Cole — the ace of the staff — has been also dealing with a balky elbow. Things look bleak to the point that Brian Cashman was quoted as saying the team “preparing for the worst” possible outcome. This would likely signal a Tommy John surgery — something no soon-to-be 35-year-old wants to deal with.

This would be a disastrous outcome for the Yankees. In the wake of losing Soto, Stanton was expected to be even more significant to the lineup in protecting Aaron Judge. While Fried, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt are a solid trio, losing Cole and Gil would severely deplete the rotation — and turn what was a major strength into a weakness.