Mike Stanton Reveals More Details About Yankees Gerrit Cole Injury, "They Don't Really Know What's Going On"

Mike Stanton goes into more depth about Yankees ace pitcher Gerrit Cole's injury, and how the team could be downplaying the significance.

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has injured his elbow, but the jury is still out in terms of the significance of the injury. An update came about today, revealing that Cole will be out a minimum of a month, but it could be up to two months. 

What is known is that Cole did not tear his UCL, and it appears Tommy John Surgery is not needed yet. However, the Yankees appear to not be panicking about the situation. Are they completely downplaying the situation? Mike Stanton breaks this down on Bleav In The Bronx. 

"They don't exactly know what's going on. They did say the reports did say that there doesn't seem to be a tear in his UCL. So that's good news. It doesn't seem like as of right now that he needs Tommy John, but he's going to be out at least a month of the regular season. That's a big blow because you're talking about a very talented starting rotation for the Yankees, but not a rotation that's really all that deep."

via Mike Stanton, Bleav In The Bronx

Stanton recently revealed that the injury to Cole places a significant strain on the rotation that the Yankees have. With Cole now having to sit out a minimum of a month, there are some questions that the team will need to ask. 

Who can they get to replace Cole? Are they comfortable with their current rotation? 

Blake Snell has been talked about as a replacement for Cole. Even if Cole's injury doesn't keep him out for that long, adding Snell would elevate the Yankees immediately. 

The scary nature of this injury is doctors still don't know what has happened. Cole might end up needing Tommy John Surgery, which could derail the whole season. 

"He's going to get it that that arm looked at many times and it's going to take a little bit of time to get everybody's ideas and figure out exactly what's going on. But this is a huge blow for the Yankees, just simply because I don't know if this team can compete in the American League East, much less the American League altogether without Gerrit Cole at the top of that list, at the top of that rotation. If he does have any issues and there is a substantial amount of time, the Yankees very well may have to do something."

via Mike Stanton, Bleav In The Bronx

The Yankees need to make a decision fast. Either by adding Snell, or some other free-agent option. Cole being out a month is still significant enough to add some panic. Stanton does reveal the team has done well at downplaying the situation, but that could be their proverbial Achilles heel.