Yankees’ Gerrit Cole could make Tommy John return this week: ‘It’s on the table’
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are considering a change of plans that could get Gerrit Cole back in the big leagues sooner than expected. Aaron Boone said Monday that the Yankees are now discussing whether the 2023 Cy Young winner will make his season debut later this week, potentially on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cole, working his way back from Tommy John surgery, was previously expected to make one more rehab start this week, but it became clear that the Yankees were at least rethinking things when they optioned starting pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez to make space for an extra reliever, Yovanny Cruz, on Monday.
Rodríguez, who pitched against the Mets on Sunday, was initially expected to make one more major league start before being replaced by Cole. “I’d say it’s on the table, yeah,” Boone said of Cole returning this week, though the manager stressed that nothing has been finalized. With the Yankees wanting to get input from Cole and their training staff, among others, Boone added that the organization will talk through its options on Monday and Tuesday before making a decision.
The possibility of an early Cole return follows the loss of another ace, as the Yankees placed Max Fried on the injured list with a bone bruise over the weekend. It’s unclear when the lefty will begin throwing, let alone rejoin the team’s rotation. “Whatever we do, it’s with the long game in mind,” Boone said of Cole.
“A need doesn’t necessarily mean we’re bringing him back. If we feel like he’s absolutely ready to go and checked all the boxes, then we’ll make that call. ” Cole, who missed the entire 2025 season, has already made six rehab starts, which have been scattered across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A.
He has totaled a 4. 66 ERA, three walks, 28 strikeouts and six homers over 29 innings, but he spent a handful of those starts working on specific things and pumping strikes in an effort to build his pitch count. Cole’s most recent rehab start was on Saturday at Triple-A.