The Cole Train Derailed? What a Gerrit Cole Injury could mean to the Yankees and what the backup plan could be
Welp, one of the three Yankees players that the Yankees couldn't afford to get injured has a massive MRI looming. Gerrit Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young and only "sure thing" in the Yankees rotation is going for an MRI on his right elbow Monday after not bouncing back like he would like to in between bullpens. Cole has been a workhorse for the Yankees since they signed him to a mega deal after the 2019 season. In his four full seasons with the Yankees, he has never missed a start due to injury (only Covid protocols in the 2020 season) and capped it off with his best season as a Yankee last year as one of the only few bright spots in a lost season. Cole finished 2023 with 209 IP and an ERA of 2.63, consistently going deep into games to give the Yankees bullpen a (much-needed most of the time) night off. Plenty of Yankee fans, pitching fans, and analysts were looking forward to seeing how Cole could improve upon his dominant 2023 campaign, but all that excitement has turne...