Yankees Have Big Decision To Make Amid Gerrit Cole News

The New York Yankees have a tough decision to make after losing Gerrit Cole for at least the next one to two months.

TAMPA - The New York Yankees are likely going to need to make a move for starting pitching help with Gerrit Cole's elbow knocking him out for at least the next one to two months, possibly more.

Will a potential move be a big transaction or a small one? That is the million dollar question.

The Yankees made an attempt to trade for Chicago White Sox starter Dylan Cease, who wound up being dealt to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday evening. The word was that general manager Brian Cashman was not willing to give up top prospect Spencer Jones in a trade. The White Sox were also not believed to have asked for the young outfielder in a deal for Cease. 

The main concern when making a big trade is further gutting the farm system and depth in the organization especially after the Yankees pulled off a blockbuster deal for Juan Soto in December. It's also possible that New York couldn't top San Diego's offer for Cease.

So, the Bronx Bombers are likely going to need to sign an arm, as Luke Weaver is currently projected to be the No. 5 starter in the rotation until Cole returns, but he is dealing with a stiff neck and doesn't have much of a track record on a team that is aiming high for a World Series this year.

What they can do is pull the trigger on one of the two best remaining free agent starting pitching options on the market in reigning NL Cy Young winning left-hander Blake Snell or former Yankee and southpaw Jordan Montgomery.

The Yankees have been engaged with super agent Scott Boras regarding both pitchers, but each will be costly even on a short-term, high AAV deal.

Not to mention, the Yankees will be hit with a 110 percent tax penalty if they were to sign either hurler. This means a one-year, $30 million deal for Snell or Montgomery would double, costing New York a total of $63 million. 

While the facts are that Cole is irreplaceable, the Yankees are going for it in 2024 as Soto plays on the final year of his arbitration. The window of having Soto and Aaron Judge in the same lineup could slam shut after this season if Soto signs elsewhere next winter. So now is the time that the Yankees would probably want to spend extra money to cover themselves in case Cole misses more time than one to two months, or worse, if he misses the season.

Cole cannot be replaced, but the impact of Snell or Montgomery in the rotation could come close to filling the void. And should Cole be able to return by the summer, it would only make the Yankees' starting five unit that much stronger and more equipped for a deep postseason run in October.

As for what else is still out there on the starting pitching market, it's slim pickings. The Yankees have been linked to 32-year-old righty Michael Lorenzen, who was an All-Star last year for the Detroit Tigers with a 3.58 ERA in 105.2 innings before getting traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he floundered in 47.1 innings with a 5.51 ERA. 

Former Mets standout Noah Syndergaard is available as well, and the Yankees were among several teams to watch him throw this offseason. So maybe they go back and make an offer, but it wouldn't move the needle very much. And if they really were blown away with what they saw at his showcase then he'd probably be in pinstripes already.

Another option would be promoting a pitching prospect from within, but the most major league ready arm they have in their system right now is righty Will Warren, who posted a 10-4 record and 3.35 ERA in 25 starts (27 games) last season for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset. This pivot could be a possibility if they don't bring in another hurler, but it is unknown whether the Yankees have had discussions about this topic. Clayton Beeter and Chase Hampton could force their way into the rotation at some point this season too, but they likely need a bit more seasoning in the minor leagues initially. 

The Yankees have a big decision to make with Opening Day just two weeks away. The bottom line is that they need pitching help in the form of an impact starter. Two of these arms are available, and although they will be costly, they'd likely pay dividends in the long run this season.