The New York Yankees received some concerning news that Gerrit Cole underwent an MRI on his pitching elbow after experiencing some discomfort. That unfortunate development came after the Yankees’ Friday Spring Training game against the Minnesota Twins, wherein he allowed six earned runs in 2.2 innings.
While Cole is hopeful for a favorable result, the six-time MLB All-Star is still concerned about the MRI’s result, especially that it’s the second consecutive season that he had elbow issues during Spring Training. Last year, an inflamed nerve on his elbow delayed his debut to June. While it took a while before he rejoined the Yankees, he helped them reach the World Series with a 3.41 ERA.
Meanwhile, this injury isn’t the start they expected when the Yankees re-signed Cole to a four-year, $144 million contract after opting out of his previous deal that was worth the same amount.
Losing Gerrit Cole early in the season would be a massive blow to the Yankees’ starting rotation. With Luis Gil out for at least three months due to a lat strain, the Yankees will go with Max Fried (whom they signed to an eight-year, $218 million deal), Clarke Schmidt, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, and Will Warren. While it’s still a formidable rotation, Cole makes them elite.
-Lance Fernandez