Can the Yankees’ rotation cover for Gerrit Cole?
When the Yankees open their season in Houston on March 28, neither team will have a Cy Young winner on the mound.
That’s because Gerrit Cole, the American League’s reigning award winner, and Justin Verlander are starting the season on the injured list. Rather than facing off in a season-opening rivalry match, the former teammates will watch from the shelf.
While the Astros will turn to Framber Valdez, the Yankees have tabbed Nestor Cortes for the start. It’s a special, if unlikely, honor for Cortes, a 36th-round draft pick and Rule 5 returnee on his third stint with the Yankees.
“I’ve kind of always been the up and down guy early in my career,” Cortes said, referring to his first three seasons in the majors. “Then I was able to get an All-Star under my belt, but this was far-fetched for me. I’m just happy that Aaron Boone and the organization have the trust in me to go out there for the first game.”
The truth is Boone had limited options after it was made known that Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman would stay on schedule following Cole’s injury. That means pitching in Game 2 for Rodón. Stroman will start Game 3, in addition to the Yankees’ home opener on April 5.
Cole’s absence will be felt well beyond Opening Day, but the Yankees have to be happy with what several rounds of testing and multiple doctors concluded: the righty’s elbow has nerve inflammation and edema, or swelling. He was told to stop throwing the week of March 16, though he planned to keep his arm active with various exercises.
“We’re gonna keep the arm live, though,” Cole said. “So it’s not like we’re not doing anything. That was the term that the doctors described. ‘You’re gonna keep the arm live for the next three to four weeks and hit the ground running.’ ”
Cole will need to go through a full spring training routine once he’s ready to throw, as he didn’t get to build up much before realizing his elbow wasn’t recovering properly between exhibition outings. That could make a late-June or early-July return possible.
While that’s certainly better than losing the entire season and then some to Tommy John surgery — a fear that crossed the minds of many when Cole first went for an MRI — that’s still a long time for the Yankees to be without their ace. Especially when the rest of the rotation still has so many questions and concerns stemming from last season.
While Cortes believes he is past the shoulder issues that derailed his 2023 campaign, he still recorded a 4.97 ERA over 12 starts. There’s no guarantee he can return to the All-Star form that saw him record a 2.61 ERA from 2021-2022.
Cortes is confident it’s possible if he stays healthy, though.
“Every year, you have something to prove, no matter if it was a good year or bad year,” the southpaw said. “If it’s a good year, people are gonna say, ‘Can you repeat it?’ If it’s a bad year, ‘Well, can you turn it around?’ For me, it’s just focusing on Game 1, and after that, just concentrate more on my rehab stuff and be able to come out every five days.”
Rodón is in the same boat. In fact, he might be the captain of it after finishing his first season in pinstripes with a 6.85 ERA.
Forearm, back and hamstring injuries limited Rodón to 14 starts, but his performance — and a few moments of uncontrolled emotions — left a sour taste in the mouths of Yankees fans after the lefty signed a six-year, $162 million contract two winters ago.
“It’s just like one of those things where I kind of just want to let it go,” Rodón, who came into camp in better shape this year, said of 2023. “Just let last year go. It definitely wasn’t easy. I mean, I didn’t perform well, and mentally, I probably wasn’t in the best spot, and that’s OK. As long as I’m mindful of that and aware of where I was physically and mentally, that’s kind of the only way you’re gonna grow from it.”
Rodón, like Cortes, is a former All-Star. So is Stroman, so it’s not like this rotation is void of talent while Cole is on the mend.
But there’s also considerable injury risk, as Stroman, the only major addition to the staff, battled a hip issue in the second half last season as a member of the Cubs. He’s been healthy all spring though, and he cited an emphasis on his body and staying on schedule when the Yankees raised the possibility of the righty starting on Opening Day.
Some have wondered how Stroman will fit the Yankees following some controversies earlier in his career, some of his doing, others not. But so far, the Long Island native has gelled, and he’s not scared of New York City’s bright lights after already pitching for the Mets.
“I’m excited to go out there and compete in the Bronx and perform in the Bronx,” Stroman said after signing. “I think it’s the hardest thing to do. I’m someone who’s always wanted a challenge and someone who’s always up for a challenge. So I think it’s just a match made in heaven.”
The Yankees are banking on that given the uncertainty in front of and behind their No. 3 starter.
Clarke Schmidt is expected to follow Stroman. While he overcame some early-season growing pains last year, he also soared past his career-high for innings pitched and had some injury issues as a minor leaguer.
Schmidt trained with the goal of throwing 170-180 innings over the offseason, but his workload is worth watching.
As for the final spot, it remains to be seen who will join the rotation until Cole is healthy. Journeyman Luke Weaver, prospects Will Warren and Clayton Beeter, and the lightly-tested Luis Gil and Cody Poteet have all been competing for the gig, but the Yankees had yet to name their fifth starter.
“I feel good about our internal options,” Brian Cashman said after Cole’s diagnosis. “I think we’ll have a lot of conversations wrapped around all of those guys.”