While Gerrit Cole has beaten a UCL tear scare, the reigning AL CY Young pitcher is not completely out of the woods. Cole reportedly had a meeting with surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in LA, who agreed with the New York Yankees medical staff’s preliminary diagnosis.
Gerrit Cole has been advised to opt for rest and rehabilitation to cure discomfort on his pitching elbow. Surgical route is seemingly ruled out for now. However, with Cole likely to miss 6-8 weeks, the New York Yankees are rumored to have checked in on veteran right handed pitcher who remains a free agent.
Yankees Linked To Michael Lorenzen After Gerrit Cole Ruled Out For 1-2 Months
As per present circumstances, the New York Yankees would kickstart the season without reigning AL CY Young pitcher Gerrit Cole. The latter has some discomfort in his pitching elbow, which will keep him out for at least 1-2 months, per Jon Heyman. While the Yanks sort out internal options for immediate replacement, the front office is also looking at external help simultaneously. According to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, the Bronx Bombers checked in on veteran right-handed free-agent pitcher Michael Lorenzen. Michael split his 2023 season with the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies. He had a better stint with the Phillies with a 4.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 111 strikeouts in 153 innings. Not only that, Lorenzen earned his career’s first all-star callup last season.
Notably, Michael Lorenzen pitched a no-hitter during his home debut game with the Phillies. Of course, Lorenzen is no Gerrit Cole. But the New York Yankees can go after him as far as backup is concerned. Lorenzen’s potential addition to the roster could mitigate the impact of Cole’s absence. Moreover, his onboarding will also provide the Yanks with a valuable asset capable of making a significant impact on the field. Besides Michael, the Bombers can try to strike a deal with Blake Snell. The negotiations have hit a stalemate ever since the two-time CY Young pitcher put forth ambitions and unrealistic demands. While Scott Boras would likely exploit Yank’s desperations, Brian Cashman must use his negotiation skills to lure Snell to New York. Overall, filling Gerrit Cole’s void will be nothing short of a daunting task for the Bombers as they prepare for the 2024 MLB season opening day.
Yanks Unlikely To Pivot To Blake Snell
As soon as Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury news spread like wildfire, speculations of New York Yankees pivoting to Blake Snell regained momentum. However, insiders squashed the speculations straightaway. Bob Nightingale claimed that Yanks’ stand on Snell’s free agency remains unchanged even after Cole’s latest injury setback.
Blake Snell’s demands are skyrocketing at the moment. And the New York Yankees do not seem in any mood to adhere to it anytime soon. For Gerrit Cole, the team has enough internal options at their helm. Many minor leaguers who impressed this spring season could likely earn a call-up as the 2024 season opening day inches closer.
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