Yankees’ ace Cole sidelined for 3-4 weeks

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole will not throw for three to four weeks in an effort to heal his ailing elbow, with the staff ace telling reporters Saturday that nerve irritation and edema are the source of the problem.

“I think we determined that we just got a little too hot a little too quick this spring.” Cole said ahead of the team’s spring training game Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cole said he’s not scheduled for any PRP injections and will be doing plyometric exercises to keep the elbow in shape, with an exact timetable for a return still pending.

As a result, the Yankees have decided that Nestor Cortes will get the ball to start the season March 28 at Houston, manager Aaron Boone said.

Cortes, 29, had a breakout season for the Yankees in 2022 when he went 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA, one shutout and 163 strikeouts to just 38 walks over 28 starts. He was 5-2 last season with a 4.97 ERA.

ELSEWHERE Cardinals:

St. Louis signed manager Oliver

Marmol to a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season. His original three-year deal was to expire at the end of 2024. Marmol, the youngest skipper in the majors at 37, was 164-160 in his first two seasons.

Rays: Tampa Bay will take a low-risk attempt and bring back righthander Jake Odorizzi, signing the 11-year veteran to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Retirement: Longtime major league outfielder Kole Calhoun is retiring at 36. In 1,239 games with four teams — the majority with the Angels — he hit .242 with 1,076 hits, 179 homers and 582 RBI. He won a Gold Glove in 2015.

Obituary: Jim McAndrew, a member of the Miracle Mets of 1969, has died at 80. A Mets spokesman announced that he died after a short illness last week in Scottsdale, Ariz. A right-hander, McAndrew pitched on a 1969 staff that included

Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Gary Gentry and

Jerry Koosman, but still managed to start 21 of his 27 appearances that season as the fifth starter. He was 6-7 with a 3.47 ERA with four complete games and two shutouts.