Yankees' rotation still pretty good, but not nearly as solid as it once appeared

TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees entered spring training with a rotation that was the envy of many in the game.

They left spring training with the unit in tatters.

Lost for the season is ace Gerrit Cole, who came into camp healthy but saw the right elbow that cost him the first 2 ½ months of the 2024 season flare up again, resulting in the worst-case scenario of Tommy John surgery.

A week earlier, reigning American League Rookie of the year Luis Gil, who coincidentally got his opportunity in spring training in 2024 when Cole got hurt, was diagnosed with a high-grade right lat strain that will keep him out a minimum of three months and likely longer than that.

Indeed, Marcus Stroman proved prophetic when he showed up for camp — two days later than the rest of the Yankees’ pitchers and catchers — and stated that he was a starting pitcher and “I won’t pitch out of the bullpen.”

The group now has a far different look than it did when camp opened and certainly different from December, when, after the Yankees lost out on Juan Soto to the Mets, their first pivot move was to sign All-Star lefthander Max Fried to an eight-year, $218-million contract.

What’s left, starting with Fried at the top, isn’t bad. Carlos Rodon threw the ball well in spring training as did Stroman, 87-85 with a 3.72 ERA in his 10-year career, much of that pitching in the usually rugged AL East while a member of the Blue Jays.

Behind that trio is Clarke Schmidt, slow-played during spring training because of a back issue but slated to start the sixth game of the season (April 3 against Arizona) and either prospect Will Warren or veteran Carlos Carrasco, who had a major-league out clause in his deal with the Yankees. The real issue is organizational depth beyond the aforementioned pitchers, and the short answer to that is: not much. It was for that reason that general manager Brian Cashman spent the rest of spring training looking for upgrades and/or depth for the group.

GRADE: B-