Yankees' Top Trade, Free-Agent Rotation Targets After Gerrit Cole Season-Ending Injury
Gerrit Cole will not headline the New York Yankees rotation in 2025.
The team announced on Monday that the ace would undergo Tommy John Surgery and will miss the 2025 season with the injury.
Cole made two spring training starts and the team had viewed his elbow as "alarming." Now, he is officially out for the season and the team will have to pivot to determine the rotation.
The Yankees do have significant depth in the rotation and the addition of southpaw Max Fried via free agency softens this blow a bit. Still, losing a dominant right-hander like Cole will be a tough pill to swallow and the team could opt to fill the hole.
Current Rotation
- Max Fried, LHP
- Carlos Rodon, LHP
- Clarke Schmidt, RHP
- Marcus Stroman, RHP
- Will Warren, RHP
- Luis Gil, RHP *injured
Unlike most teams that lose an ace like Cole, the Yankees could still have a highly-viewed rotation without making any additional moves. Fried was the top left-handed pitcher in free agency, Gil is the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Rodon and Stroman are former All-Stars and Schmidt is a very reliable starter.
However, Gil is out for at least six weeks with a right lat strain and prospect Will Warren will have to potentially be advanced quicker than anticipated. Regardless of when Gil returns, the rotation is still missing a veteran right-hander at the top.
Free Agent Targets
Kyle Gibson
Free agency has been picked through at this point so the remaining arms tend to be on the older side. Gibson is in his age-37 season and is entering his 13th season in MLB. He's not the flashiest option and would probably slot in as a spot-starter unless the team deals an arm on the roster.
He threw 169.2 innings in 2024 and compiled an 8-8 record with a 4.24 ERA.
Lance Lynn
He is another older option but has spent time with New York in his career. He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024 and threw 117.1 innings with a 4.31 ERA
Anthony Desclafini
He's not a young arm but he will only turn 35 in 2025 so he's a bit younger than the previous options. He did not pitch in 2024 and struggled with the San Francisco Giants in 2023, so this may not be an ideal option but at least could help the depth.
Trade Targets
Dylan Cease
This would be the big splash. Cease is the top arm on the trade market and is set to hit free agency following the 2025 season. He pitched 189.1 innings in 2024 and earned a 14-11 record with a 3.47 ERA.
Luis Castillo
Seattle may not be keen to move Castillo but a strong offer could land the righty. He went 11-12 with a 3.64 ERA in 2024 and the 32-year-old could fit into the rotation for a few more years as he is under contract through at least 2027.
Sonny Gray
A less splashy option considering his age and past experience with the franchise but he has been resurgent late in his career. He pitched 166.1 innings in 2024 and compiled a 13-9 record and a 3.84 ERA.
