Yankees GM: 'Very Little Available' to Help Pitching Depth Amid Cole, Gil Injuries

The New York Yankees will be without ace pitcher Gerrit Cole for the entirety of the 2025 season as he undergoes Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil for at least three months while he recovers from a right lat strain.

It's a huge blow for the Yankees' rotation, and external help isn't likely to come, as general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Tuesday:

The Yankees still have Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt atop the rotation, while Marcus Stroman—who was dangled in trade talks this offseason and was expected to be the team's first man up in the event of injuries—will now be a prominent part of the rotation.

But the No. 5 starting spot is now up for grabs while Gil, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, remains sidelined.

Will Warren will likely get the top shot at the job as the No. 5 prospect in New York's farm system. His debut in 2024 didn't go well—he had a whopping 10.32 ERA in 22.2 innings—but he's treating that disappointment as a learning experience.

"I think the failure from last year, it takes that experience to learn," he told reporters over the weekend. "I think the mentality has changed a little bit. I'm a little more confident out there, because I do have that experience from last year. It wasn't what I wanted it to be, but there is a little confidence going out there knowing, 'Alright, I've done this before.'"

If Warren stumbles again, however, the door will be opened for pitchers like Allan Winans or Carlos Carrasco. It's possible that the Yankees will try a number of options at the No. 5 spot until Gil returns.

If the team's internal options all flounder, the Yankees will likely have to explore the trade market closer to the summer. A more immediate splash is unlikely:

Last year, it was Gil who stepped up in the wake of Cole missing a significant chunk of the season due to right elbow inflammation and edema in his right elbow. This season, New York's pitching depth will be even further tested.