Controversial Cy Young Winner Could Be Option For Yankees, Although Unlikely

The New York Yankees have some tough decisions to make regarding the starting rotation after losing Gerrit Cole.

Will the New York Yankees make another addition before Opening Day?

The Yankees' starting rotation is in a rough place after losing 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole to an elbow injury. Cole underwent an MRI on his elbow and will miss at least one or two months.

New York already has been linked to a handful of players as possible options to fill the hole left by Cole.

It's unclear if the Yankees will make another addition because the club already has such a high payroll. But, there still are some players available in free agency.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman compiled a list of the most likely options for the Yankees after losing Cole. One player Heyman mentioned as a possible option for New York is controversial 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer.

"(Trevor Bauer) looked great pitching for Asian Breeze on the back fields at Dodgers camp in his ongoing campaign to try to convince an MLB team to take a chance," Heyman said. "He’d likely fit a small-market contender best, but even they haven’t shown a willingness yet to take the PR hit.

"The Yankees wouldn’t seem to be the obvious landing spot, anyway, but his UCLA teammate, Cole, was the first one to identify Bauer as a troublesome personality. It’s impossible to see the Yankees adding insult to Cole’s injury."

It would be very surprising if the Yankees ended up signing Bauer. He hasn't appeared in a big league game since 2021 and it would be shocking if he did so in 2024.