JUPITER, Fla. — While the Yankees didn’t have an official update on Gerrit Cole on Sunday, it was nearly just as revealing of a day about the ace’s condition as yesterday.
Prior to the Yankees’ spring training matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon, general manager Brian Cashman didn’t express much optimism about his ace.
“[I’m] prepared for the worst,” he told The Post and Newsday. “We will see how it plays out. I’m always wired to think the worst and hope for the best.”
“Obviously not what you want, but it’s ultimately part of our journey here in 2025,” he added.
For the second consecutive spring offseason, the Yankees find themselves nervous and on the edge of their seats about the 2023 Cy Young winner, who was diagnosed with elbow nerve inflammation and edema after just one spring start a year ago.
Cole, who experienced discomfort following his second spring start on Thursday against the Twins, underwent tests and imaging on his right elbow on Friday to get an “initial idea” on the injury.
He is currently seeking additional opinions.
The 34-year-old gave up six runs in 2 ⅔ innings while building up his pitch count to 54, and manager Aaron Boone said he is hoping to have an update on Monday.
On Saturday, Cole expressed he was “concerned” at the thought of having to undergo surgery on the same elbow that shut him down last season.
Cashman agreed with the six-time All-Star, saying “he should be concerned” but countered that the Yankees and Cole are more prepared to handle this situation after going through it just a year ago.
“I was with him in Tampa. I think last year, [it was] very emotional [for Cole] because it was a whole new experience,” Cashman said. “This year now, not as emotional because he’s walked this line already. And so, I think he is mentally more prepared to deal with it because he’s already dealt with this once before. So, and that’s even the worst case scenario. Just generally, we are all in a better position to handle something if we’ve had some experience handling it in the past.
“So, he’s already had a lot of conversations. A lot of engagement with the doctors and lived through this last year. So, less of an emotional shock this year and now more about alright what needs to be done here, what’s the best route for he and we.”
Still, looking for possible moves to aid another injury nightmare, if needed, at this point in March is “difficult,” Cashman said.
It’s a hard pill to swallow for the Yankees, especially after they already took a big blow to the rotation when reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil was diagnosed with a high-grade lat strain that will sideline him at least until June.
Marcus Stroman is expected to fill in for Gil, and if Cole will miss time from mound, the door will open for right-handers Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco, along with another depth piece in Allan Winans.
The situation wasn’t something the organization could predict.
They prepared to avoid this very position, altering Cole’s offseason throwing regimen.
He followed the program and Cashman explained that it looked like “smooth sailing.”
“Last year, we had a successful rehab with him,” Cashman said. “You know, he came back and pitched great for us in the second half and obviously dominant in the postseason. So, it certainly felt like smooth sailing was ahead but, again, pitching is very brittle. That’s just general and then in his specific case, obviously had a breakdown last spring somewhere around this time and now we’re dealing with another situation, which is obviously now more concerning because it’s not like the first episode is now the second episode. So, we’ll do what we have to do.”
Cole threw for 95 innings across 17 starts last season before making five more starts in the postseason for the Yankees, where he held a 2.17 ERA.
