The New York Yankees will officially enter the 2024 MLB season without reigning AL CY Young pitcher Gerrit Cole on the active roster. Cole has been diagnosed with nerve inflammation in his pitching shoulder after a dire spring debut. He will likely remain on the injury list for 10-12 weeks.
Without Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees starting rotation is half-strength due to lack of depth. While the front office had an opportunity to be one of the most coveted pitchers in MLB, they let the option pass due to payroll issues. And now that the two-time CY Young pitcher is rumored to have signed with a rival, the fans are outraged.
Blake Snell Rumored To Have Signed With San Francisco Giants
In a stunning update shared by NY Post’s Jon Heyman, the most sought-after free agent, Blake Snell, has agreed to a two-year $62 million short-term deal with the San Francisco Giants, with an opt-out after the 2024 season. Notably, the New York Yankees were a part of the prolonged sweepstakes right from the start. The front office allegedly offered a $150 million deal, which Snell’s camp instantly rejected. Not only that, Snell’s counteroffer soared to $270 million, which was unacceptable by Hal Steinbrenner.
Regardless, after Gerrit Cole was shut down with an elbow injury, the franchise was expected to re-enter the pursuit as the two-time CY Young pitcher is an apt replacement for Cole. However, in what came as shocking news to the New York Yankees fans, Blake Snell reportedly agreed to a multi-year contract with the Giants. As soon as the news spread, the fans thronged the internet to call out the front office’s lack of proactive approach, especially in the aftermath of Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury. Of course, the disappointment of missing out on Blake Snell’s signing with the Giants may linger among Yankees fans for some time. However, they can take solace in the fact that there are still opportunities to strengthen the team through internal in-house setups.
Will Warren, Cody Poteet Front Runners To Replace Gerrit Cole In Yankees Rotation!
The New York Yankees have announced Nestor Cortes as the opening day starter after Gerrit Cole was ruled out with elbow nerve inflammation. However, as far as finding a fifth starter is concerned, the teams hasn’t had a headway. So far, top prospect Will Warren has been touted as a leading candidate owing to his impressive spring stint.
Besides, Cody Poteet is also in the running. With less than 10 days left for regular season, the New York Yankees are left in a lurch amid the injury crisis. To construct a balance opening day lineup is nothing but a daunting task for skipper Aaron Boone. It would be interesting to see how the roster shapes up leading up to the 2024 season.
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