The New York Yankees’ rotation is weaker than what was projected entering spring training, thanks to injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil.
Gil (lat strain, out three months) is at least expected to return this season, though Cole (Tommy John surgery) will be out until sometime next season. Thus, pitching depth is emerging as a concern.
Will that force general manager Brian Cashman into a move? Not so fast, apparently. it doesn’t seem like the Yankees are going to look for a solution externally yet.
“It seems to me that they don’t like what is out there,” Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said on Foul Territory on Thursday.
Pitchers that are “out there” include free agents Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Spencer Turnbull, among others. They could also dive into the trade market, but that could prove prohibitive at this time of year.
“It seems to me that they’re not enamored with the options out there,” Rosenthal said.
The Yankees also have to consider the financial cost; because their payroll puts them beyond the highest luxury tax, they will be taxed at 110%.
On Tuesday, one day after the Yankees announced Cole would undergo Tommy John surgery, Cashman appeared willing to wait.
“We’ll just evaluate what’s available, and this time of year, very little is available,” Cashman said. “Normally, the more significant opportunities don’t exist until the trade deadline.
“When we’ve had these conversations many a time over, you hope you can withstand injuries and avoid injuries early from spring training up through the draft because going outside the organization is just that much more difficult to do. So we’ll rely on what we have, and we’ll explore what is limited available in the marketplace.”
- What’s Gerrit Cole facing? Yankees’ Carlos Rodon details his Tommy John from arm marking to return
- Ready or not? What Yankees’ Jasson Domiguez is showing with final cuts approaching
- Yankees announce double dose of pitching news after win
- Yankees on verge of naming Opening Day starter; Here’s likely rotation order
- How Jasson Dominguez is forcing Yankees into big roster decision
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Bridget Hyland may be reached at [email protected].
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
