Inside The Cardinals

Here's How Yankees Could Sign One Of Ex-Cardinals All-Stars Amid Gerrit Cole Dilemma

The former St. Louis hurlers might be a short-term solution
Nate Hagerty|
Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) kneels behind the pitchers mound before throwing the first pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Oct 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) kneels behind the pitchers mound before throwing the first pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsNew York Yankees

The New York Yankees' rotation might soon be in trouble but one of two former St. Louis Cardinals hurlers could be used as a solution to mitigate their upcoming problem.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is suffering from elbow pain in his throwing arm for a second consecutive season and was recently recommended to have what would be a season-ending Tommy John surgery.

However, there remains hope that Cole can avoid missing the 2025 season. If that's the case, the Yankees could turn to one of two former Cardinals All-Star hurlers for rotation help while the New York right-handed pitcher fights to regain his health.

"Of our top 50 free agents of the 2024-25 class, just two remain unsigned -- David Robertson, a reliever, and J.D. Martinez, a designate hitter," CBS Sports' Dayn Perry wrote Sunday night. "Going off list, starting pitchers looking for work include 37-year-old Kyle Gibson (4.24 ERA/4.42 FIP in 169 ⅔ innings for the Cardinals last season), 37-year-old Lance Lynn (3.84 ERA/4.31 FIP in 117 ⅓ innings for the Cardinals last season), 33-year-old lefty Marco Gonzales (4.54 ERA/4.71 FIP in seven starts for the (Pittsburgh) Pirates last season), and 32-year-old Spencer Turnbull (2.65 ERA/3.85 FIP in seven starts and 10 relief appearances for the (Philadelphia) Phillies last season). Suffice it to say, those are not exactly inspiring options, and the Yankees would probably turn to this withered crop only if Cole's absence is of the short- to mid-term variety." 

Gibson and Lynn, who are being targeted by the National League Central-foe Chicago Cubs, wouldn't replace Cole at the front of the rotation but could help stabilize the Yankees' arsenal while they are without their top arm.

The odds of Gibson and Lynn signing with the Yankees before Opening Day are slim for now. However, that could quickly change if Cole's absence won't be long-term. Both former beloved Cardinals pitchers would serve as inexpensive and proven short-term solutions for the Bronx Bombers, who aren't looking to add much to the payroll.

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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