New York Yankees

Gerrit Cole will not headline the New York Yankees rotation in 2025.

The team announced on Monday that the ace would undergo Tommy John Surgery and will miss the 2025 season with the injury.

Cole made two spring training starts and the team had viewed his elbow as "alarming." Now, he is officially out for the season and the team will have to pivot to determine the rotation.

The Yankees do have significant depth in the rotation and the addition of southpaw Max Fried via free agency softens this blow a bit. Still, losing a dominant right-hander like Cole will be a tough pill to swallow and the team could opt to fill the hole.

Current Rotation

1. Max Fried, LHP
2. Carlos Rodon, LHP
3. Clarke Schmidt, RHP
4. Marcus Stroman, RHP
5. Will Warren, RHP
6. Luis Gil, RHP *injured

Unlike most teams that lose an ace like Cole, the Yankees could still have a highly-viewed rotation without making any additional moves. Fried was the top left-handed pitcher in free agency, Gil is the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Rodon and Stroman are former All-Stars and Schmidt is a very reliable starter.

However, Gil is out for at least six weeks with a right lat strain and prospect Will Warren will have to potentially be advanced quicker than anticipated. Regardless of when Gil returns, the rotation is still missing a veteran right-hander at the top.

Free Agent Targets

Kyle Gibson

Free agency has been picked through at this point so the remaining arms tend to be on the older side. Gibson is in his age-37 season and is entering his 13th season in MLB. He's not the flashiest option and would probably slot in as a spot-starter unless the team deals an arm on the roster.

He threw 169.2 innings in 2024 and compiled an 8-8 record with a 4.24 ERA.

Lance Lynn

He is another older option but has spent time with New York in his career. He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024 and threw 117.1 innings with a 4.31 ERA

Anthony Desclafini

He's not a young arm but he will only turn 35 in 2025 so he's a bit younger than the previous options. He did not pitch in 2024 and struggled with the San Francisco Giants in 2023, so this may not be an ideal option but at least could help the depth.

Trade Targets

Dylan Cease

This would be the big splash. Cease is the top arm on the trade market and is set to hit free agency following the 2025 season. He pitched 189.1 innings in 2024 and earned a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA.

Luis Castillo

Seattle may not be keen to move Castillo but a strong offer could land the righty. He went 11-12 with a 3.64 ERA in 2024 and the 32-year-old could fit into the rotation for a few more years as he is under contract through at least 2027.

Sonny Gray

A less splashy option considering his age and past experience with the franchise but he has been resurgent late in his career. He pitched 166.1 innings in 2024 and compiled a 13-9 record and a 3.84 ERA.

The New York Yankees' hopes of returning to the World Series took a major hit on Monday.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament and will miss the entire 2025 season.

Cole addressed the situation on Instagram:

"From the time I first dreamed of wearing the Yankees uniform, my goal has always been to help bring a World Series championship to New York. That dream hasn’t changed—I still believe in it, and I’m more determined than ever to achieve it.

"Today, the most respected medical experts in the field recommend that I undergo Tommy John surgery. This isn’t the news any athlete wants to hear, but it’s the necessary next step for my career.

"I have a lot left to give, and I’m fully committed to the work ahead. I’ll attack my rehab every day and support the 2025 Yankees each step of the way. I love this game, I love competing, and I can’t wait to be back on the mound—stronger than ever.

"See you soon.

"—G"

Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported Sunday that Cole was recommended to have Tommy John surgery on his injured elbow, but New York was waiting for a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis.

The 34-year-old made two Spring Training starts prior to the surgery announcement. Cole didn't seem limited in his first appearance, striking out five batters in 3.1 innings of work.

His second outing didn't go as planned, allowing five hits and six earned runs in 2.2 innings against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Cole later underwent diagnostic tests on his elbow, telling reporters that he was "concerned."

The 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner has been hampered by injuries as of late, recording just 17 starts in 2024 after dealing with nerve irritation in his elbow at the beginning of the year.

Cole was still effective when healthy last season, finishing with a record of 8-5 to go along with a 3.41 ERA. He also racked up 99 strikeouts in 95 innings.

The six-time All-Star's upcoming absence is an especially tough blow to a Yankees rotation that was dealing with health issues, as right-hander Luis Gil was already expected to miss at least three months with a high-grade lat strain.

Veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton will also open the regular season on the injured list due to elbow issues.

With Cole out, Max Fried is now expected to headline New York's 2025 rotation.

The New York Yankees have already incurred major injuries before the start of the 2025 season, and it sounds like more bad news could be on the way.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported on Sunday that Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has been recommended to have Tommy John surgery on his injured elbow. Bowden added that the team is waiting for a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis.

Cole underwent imaging on his right elbow this weekend after declaring, "Something wasn't right" in his spring training start against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in which he gave up six runs on five hits in just two and two-thirds innings.

This marks the second straight year that Cole has dealt with a setback before the start of the regular season. He was limited to just 17 starts in 2024 after missing the start of the year due to nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. He went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 95.0 innings pitched before going 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA and 22 strikeouts in the postseason as the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009.

In addition to the uncertainty surrounding Cole's status, the Yankees already lost key players to injuries. Veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton will begin the season on the injured list due to pain in both of his elbows. Starting pitcher Luis Gil, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, was shut down for at least six weeks because of a lat strain. Third baseman D.J. LeMahieu is dealing with a left calf strain.

The Yankees are hoping to make a second straight run to the World Series, but it won't be easy as these injuries keep mounting. Losing Cole would be a huge blow to New York's chances of repeating as American League champion.

The injury woes for New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton seem to be getting worse with each new piece of information that comes out.

Stanton told reporters on Saturday he has "severe" injuries in both of his elbows and his season would be over if he has to have surgery to repair the damage.

Stanton hasn't appeared in a game so far this spring due to the elbow issues. He attributed the problems to "bat adjustments" he made during the 2024 season

There's no indication at this point when Stanton might be able to resume baseball activities.

Injuries are piling up for the Yankees less than three weeks away from the start of the regular season.

General manager Brian Cashman announced on Thursday that surgery would be a last-resort option for Stanton. He also revealed that reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will miss at least three months due to a strained lat.

DJ LeMahieu said that same day he will be out of action for several weeks due to a calf strain suffered in his first appearance of spring training on March 1.

Gerrit Cole told reporters on Saturday he's "concerned" about his right elbow as he undergoes diagnostic imaging after experiencing discomfort following his most recent spring start against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

"We have an initial idea, but we’re going to wait to see exactly what everybody says before we come to our conclusion," Cole said.

This is the second consecutive year that Cole has had an elbow issue in spring training. He did miss more than two months at the start of the 2024 season due to inflammation and edema in his right elbow, but it didn't require any surgical procedure.

Durability has never been a hallmark of Stanton's career. He's only reached the 140-game mark four times in 15 seasons. The last time he hit that mark was his first season with the Yankees in 2018 (158).

When Stanton does play, he still boasts game-changing power. The five-time All-Star hit 27 homers in 114 games last season. He had seven homers and slugged .709 in the postseason to help the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.

If Stanton has to start the season on the injured list, the Yankees would likely turn to Ben Rice as their primary designated hitter. The 26-year-old had seven home runs in 50 games during the 2024 campaign.

After a rough outing in Thursday's spring training loss to the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is set to have his pitching elbow examined.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Cole will undergo diagnostic tests with full results expected in a couple of days to determine his status for the start of the regular season. Cole confirmed the testing to reporters on Saturday, saying he's "hopeful" but "concerned."

Cole got hit around against the Twins, allowing six runs on five hits (two homers) in 2.2 innings.

There was nothing obvious as far as Cole's velocity to suggest anything was wrong. MLB.com's Bryan Hoch noted Cole's fastball averaged 95.7 mph and touched 97.6 mph.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Cole said he felt he had too much "horsepower" in that start.

Thursday was Cole's second appearance of the spring. His debut on Feb. 28 against the Toronto Blue Jays looked like a vintage performance with one run allowed and five strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

This is the second consecutive year that Cole has had an elbow-related injury scare in spring training. He missed more than two months last year after being diagnosed with nerve inflammation and edema.

Cole returned to action on June 19 and pitched well, though not quite up to normal standards. The six-time All-Star finished with a 3.41 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 95 innings. He was better in the playoffs with a 2.17 ERA in five starts.

The Yankees are already going to start the season short-handed in the rotation with 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil expected to miss three months with a strained lat.

Losing Cole for any length of time would be another huge blow to the Yankees in their quest to get back to the World Series.

Max Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract in free agency, would likely get the start on Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers if Cole has to start the season on the injured list.

New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is rejoining the team this weekend after missing spring training with an elbow injury, but he's not closer to returning to the field.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Thursday that surgery remains on the table for Stanton, though the team is still evaluating its options.

"It’d be a last resort. ... I can’t rule out a surgery, but I know it’s not recommended on the front end of this thing," Cashman said. "But obviously if you have a number of different failed attempts, then you start looking at different ways of intervention."

Yankees GM Brian Cashman discusses Giancarlo Stanton’s status, saying surgery would be a “last resort”: pic.twitter.com/ps6Y9Tmci9

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 6, 2025

Cashman said that Stanton received a second round of PRP injections in both elbows before returning to the team. When asked why he didn't receive the injections earlier in the offseason, Cashman said that the issues didn't arise until about three weeks before camp when he started swinging a bat.

"Ultimately, he was dealing with it at the end of last year and obviously thought we were in a good place and I think he was feeling in a good place," Cashman said. "But then it reared its ugly head about three weeks before camp, is my understanding, so now we’re dealing with it."

Stanton discussed the injury before the team's first full-squad workout last month, explaining that he's dealing with painful tendinitis in both elbows and he was playing through the injuries for much of the 2024 season as the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009.

"The pain was very high in general," Stanton said at the time. "Tennis elbow or however they call it is tears in tendon, so it's not when did it feel good, when did it feel bad. There's always the pain level there, and you got to deal with that. So, yeah, it's just the wisest point to give time right now."

Despite the injuries, Stanton had a respectable season with 25 home runs and 72 RBI and upped his play during the postseason, hitting .273 with seven homers and 16 RBI.

It's already expected that Stanton will begin the season on the IL. The Yankees will need him back at full strength to make another deep playoff run this year.

Despite being unsettled at third base going into the regular season, the New York Yankees don't seem inclined to make a move for Nolan Arenado.

Per ESPN's Jorge Castillo, the Yankees have "not been aggressive pursuers" of Arenado thus far.

The St. Louis Cardinals have made no secret that they want to deal Arenado. Their ability to do depends entirely on them finding a destination where he wants to play since his contract contains a full no-trade clause.

Arenado has already blocked a deal to the Houston Astros. The Astros aren't going away quietly, as MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, Mark Feinsand and John Denton reported on Feb. 22 they renewed their interest in the eight-time All-Star.

The report noted Arenado could be more willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Astros now that they have added Christian Walker to play first base. Walker wasn't signed at the time the original talks with Arenado were happening.

One problem for any team potentially looking to acquire Arenado is money. The Athletic's Katie Woo noted on Feb. 21 that Cardinals ownership is looking to reduce payroll due to a combination of uncertainty with their regional television network and projected drop in gate revenue this season.

Woo wrote those factors mean the Cardinals "would not be willing" to eat much of the $74 million remaining on Arenado's contract.

If Arenado was still playing at the level he did in 2022, when he finished third in NL MVP voting, that amount of money over the next three seasons might not be a big deal. His performance has dipped in the two years since that dominant 2022.

Arenado slugged a career-low .394 in 152 games. His defense did rebound last season with six defensive runs saved and a defensive value of 9.6, per FanGraphs.

The Yankees were expected to enter the regular season with DJ LeMahieu as their third baseman, but his status is unclear after tweaking his calf running to first base in Saturday's spring training game against Houston.

Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza will be competing to open the season at the hot corner. Cabrera was once a promising prospect, but he owns a .233/.291/.352 slash line in 267 MLB games.

Peraza is a .216/.297/.315 career hitter in just 74 games over the past three seasons.

The Yankees open the regular season on March 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium.

The start of the 2025 season is just a few weeks away, but the New York Yankees already suffered a major blow to their starting rotation.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Monday that starting pitcher Luis Gil has been diagnosed with a high-grade right lat strain and will not throw for at least six weeks.

Per Alex Smith of Yahoo Sports, Boone added that Gil will undergo further evaluations and get additional opinions, but he believes that the 26-year-old is “in the right frame of mind to go attack it and try to get right."

The reigning American League Rookie of the Year, Gil was a dominant force for the Yankees in his first full year of major-league action. He made 29 starts and went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and 171 strikeouts in 151.2 innings of work.

Unfortunately, Gil felt discomfort recently and cut a bullpen session short on Friday. The team scheduled him to undergo an MRI on Saturday, which revealed the severity of his injury.

This isn't the first time that Gil suffered a significant setback. He was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery that cost him most of the 2022 season and the entirety of the 2023 campaign.

Gil's absence likely will open a spot in the starting rotation for veteran Marcus Stroman, who was previously on the outside looking in as the sixth starter behind Gil, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt. New York's depth should keep the team afloat until the young hurler is ready to return to the mound.

The New York Yankees announced that slugger Giancarlo Stanton will begin the 2025 season on the injured list due to elbow issues, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

Stanton left spring training to return to New York and received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in both elbows.

The 35-year-old previously revealed that he was dealing with a “very high” level of pain in his elbows, via Hoch.

YES Network's Meredith Marakovits reported on Saturday that Stanton's return timeline is "still not known."

.@M_Marakovits has an update on Giancarlo Stanton. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/j5qLBd4UJI

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 1, 2025

The former National League MVP has been a consistent power bat in New York's lineup when healthy, recording at least 24 home runs in each of the past four years.

Stanton has also repeatedly stepped up in the postseason, hitting 18 home runs in 41 postseason games with the Yankees to go along with a .265/.331/.662 slash line. He was named the 2024 American League Championship Series MVP.

Giancarlo Stanton just HAMMERED one to make it 5-1 Yankees in Game 1 😱 pic.twitter.com/b9mYdv4wuV

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 15, 2024

Availability has been an issue for Stanton throughout his tenure with New York, failing to appear in at least 115 games in every season since 2021. He also dealt with the same elbow issues that are currently affecting him throughout his 2024 campaign, per Hoch.

With Stanton out for the start of the regular season, the Yankees will need to find a designated hitter to fill in for him. Superstar Aaron Judge could see some time at the position, while 26-year-old Ben Rice may fill in until Stanton is able to return.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post revealed on Thursday that New York reached out to six-time All-Star J.D. Martinez as well. The veteran recorded 16 home runs with the New York Mets in 2024.

As the Yankees attempt to return to the postseason and defend their AL pennant, they'll have to survive without Stanton for the beginning of the regular season.

One week after the New York Yankees announced a contract extension with manager Aaron Boone, details of his deal have been revealed.

Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Boone will earn $15 million over the next three seasons with salaries of $4.5 million in 2025, $5 million in 2026 and $5.5 million in 2027.

Boone had one year remaining on his previous deal that was signed in October 2021.

While manager salaries aren't often made public, Heyman noted Boone's new contract makes him one of the highest-paid skippers in MLB.

Per a May 2024 report from Rodney Reeves of Front Office Sports, Craig Counsell of the Chicago Cubs is the highest-paid manager at $8 million annually.

Boone's average salary of $5 million is tied with Torey Lovullo of the Arizona Diamondbacks for No. 2 in MLB.

Reeves' report had Boone as the 10th-highest-paid manager under his previous deal with an average annual salary of $3.3 million.

Boone was a surprise hire by the Yankees when he originally replaced Joe Girardi in December 2017. He had no previous coaching experience at any level and spent eight seasons as a broadcaster following his retirement as a player in 2010.

Since taking over as manager in the Bronx, Boone has been incredibly successful. The Yankees rank fourth in MLB in wins since 2018 and have made the playoffs six times in seven seasons.

Boone's 603 career wins are the seventh-most for a manager in Yankees history.

Last season marked the Yankees first appearance in the World Series since the 2009 season. They were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

The Yankees will open the regular season at home on March 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers.