March 14: Cole is meeting with Dr. ElAttrache today, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Manager Aaron Boone expects more information on his status this evening, although that doesnt ensure that the Yankees will publicly disclose an update tonight. March 13: Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner will mi s at least the first month or two of the season due to an elbow injury, . Cole underwent an MRI earlier this week after experiencing difficulty recovering Adolis Garcia Jersey between spring starts and throwing se sions. The Yankees havent made a formal announcement on the injury or a timetable yet. Heyman reports that initial imaging on Coles right elbow has not detected a ligament tear, though theres some inflammation and swelling still present. Coles MRI has been reviewed by multiple parties, including renowned surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Per the report, ElAttrache did not see a ligament tear but nonethele s suggested an in-person visit to personally examine Cole. While its a sigh of relief that early imaging didnt reveal a major tear, the fact that Cole is going for further testing remains an ominous sign. Inflammation can at times be substantial enough that it masks structural damage. Only time will tell whether thats the case with Cole. Regardle s, to call even an absence of roughly four to eight weeks for Cole a major blow for the team would only be stating the obvious. The 33-year-old righty is on the short list of baseballs best and until now most durable pitchers. Furthermore, the Yankees rotation behind Cole is rife with question marks. New York signed right-hander to a two-year, $37MM deal in the offseason, but Stromans All-Star 2023 season was cut short by second-half injuries a hip i sue and rib cartilage fractures. He was sporting an ERA in the low-2.00s for much of the season but was hit rocked in July while pitching through the hip injury and struggled down the stretch after returning from what wound up being an extended absence due to the rib troubles. Lefties and were both limited to fewer than 65 innings in 2023, and neither pitched anywhere close to his 2021-22 form. Rodons season was particularly alarming, given that hed pitched at Cy Young-caliber levels the prior two years and inked a six-year, $162MM deal with the Yankees just last offseason. A forearm strain and hamstring strain combined to limit Rodon to 64 1/3 innings during which time he posted a 6.85 ERA with a 22.4% strikeout rate that was 11.5 percentage points shy of his 21-22 rate. Cortes, meanwhile, twice hit the IL with a strained rotator cuff in his left shoulder. His 4.97 ERA in 63 1/3 innings was more than double the 2.44 number hed posted the year prior. Right-hander was the only other Yankees pitcher to make even 20 starts last year. He took the ball for a full slate of 32 games, pitching 159 innings with a 4.64 earned run average. Schmidts 21.5% strikeout rate was below the league average, but his 6.6% walk rate was strong and his 43.8% grounder rate, which clocked in a couple percentage points ahead of the average starting pitcher. Schmidt was too homer-prone (1.36 HR/9) but at least looked like he could give the Yankees around five competitive innings every fifth day, which could prove crucial with Cole shelved for a notable period and several injury question marks alongside him on the starting staff. The Yankees traded away a significant amount of rotation depth when dealing , and to the Padres as part of the trade. Remaining in-house options for the now-vacant rotation spot include young righties , and all three of whom are on the 40-man roster. Veteran righty inked a one-year, $2MM deal and was expected to serve as a swingman, but he has ample starting experience in the majors and pitched well in three September starts for the Yanks last year. Top prospects and were both invited to camp as non-roster players, but neither is on the 40-man roster. Of course, the po sibility remains that the Yankees will go outside the organization to bring in a more established arm. and remain unsigned, but the 110% luxury tax the team would pay on top of either players salary could prove exorbitant. Snell, in particular, would also cost the Yankees their second-highest draft choice in 2024 and require them to forfeit $1MM in bonus space from next years international amateur free agency pool. Ownerships appetite for signing either player will now be tested. If not them, that righty could be an option for the Yankees, though its not clear if the two parties have had any serious talks recently. The trade market offers at least one more marquee name, and that seems to be the Yankees current area of focus. GM Brian Cashman and his staff have reportedly already presented the White Sox for top starter , though theyre joined by both the and in their late pursuit of the 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up. The ChiSox had previously insisted that the Yankees include top outfield prospect in any trade for Cease. The Yankees have balked at that ask. The new proposal to the Sox reportedly does not include Jones, though with several teams in the mix for Cease and the Yankees now staring down a potential two-month absence for Cole, its po sible theyll eventually acquiesce and meet Chicagos asking price. Owen White Jersey