The New York Yankees must brace for the worst when it comes to their ace, Gerrit Cole.
After experiencing elbow discomfort in his most recent spring training start, Cole underwent an MRI on his pitching arm. On Sunday night, Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported that Cole had been advised to undergo Tommy John surgery, though the right-hander is seeking a second opinion.
If Cole does require the procedure, he would miss the entire 2025 season. Even if he avoids surgery, the Yankees must prepare for a prolonged absence. Adding to their rotation concerns, last season’s Rookie of the Year, Luis Gil, is also sidelined indefinitely with a lat strain.
Given this uncertainty, New York may explore the trade market for a veteran starter. One potential target is St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde, who is entering the final season of his team-friendly $15 million contract.
In a Monday mailbag column, Yankees insider Chris Kirschner of The Athletic suggested a possible trade that would send Fedde to the Bronx in exchange for a top-10 prospect and either a reliever or another top-20 prospect.
“If they wanted to keep their top prospects in-house, perhaps the Yankees could call the St. Louis Cardinals and see what it would take to land right-hander Erick Fedde,” Kirschner wrote. “The Cardinals want to clear salary and go younger.”
Fedde, 32, is coming off a strong season in which he posted a 3.30 ERA and registered 5.6 rWAR, benefiting from adjustments he made during his 2023 stint in the Korean Baseball Organization. With St. Louis seemingly shifting away from playoff contention in 2025, the Yankees could put together a package compelling enough to convince the Cardinals to part ways with him.
The real question is whether the Yankees feel enough urgency to sacrifice prospects when the organization will soon require an infusion of young talent.
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