The Yankees are deciding whether to skip Gerrit Cole’s seventh and final scheduled rehab start and bring him back to the majors for his next outing. Manager Aaron Boone said the team is discussing the decision over the next day or two. The Yankees optioned Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A, leaving them without a starter for Friday’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cole has not pitched in a regular-season or postseason game since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series and underwent Tommy John surgery last March after elbow inflammation. In six minor-league rehab starts, he posted a 5.28 ERA over 29 innings, including a strong Saturday outing with one run allowed on six hits in 5.1 innings. Boone said the rehab outing looked good and was likely aimed at getting him ready with competition in mind. Cole’s return would strengthen a rotation that has been among baseball’s best in early 2026, with Cam Schlittler and Carlos Rodon available, while Max Fried is unavailable after a left elbow injury.
"The Yankees are deliberating on whether or not to forego veteran ace Gerrit Cole's seventh and final scheduled rehab start and bring him back up to the majors for his next outing, manager Aaron Boone disclosed. We'll see, Boone said on Monday night. We're kind of talking about that here today, tomorrow, and we'll make a call one way or the other. In a way, the Yankees have already tipped their hand. They optioned Elmer Rodriguez, who started Sunday's loss to the Mets, to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre."
"That leaves Boone and the Yankees, for now, without a starter for Friday's series opener against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, which just so happens to line up with a proper five days' rest schedule for Cole. The 35-year-old right-hander has not pitched in a regular-season or postseason game since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, when he failed to cover first base in a pivotal fifth inning that saw the Yankees squander a five-run lead to the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers."
"He underwent Tommy John surgery last March after initial elbow inflammation sidelined him for roughly three months during the 2024 campaign. Across his six minor-league rehab starts, he posted a 5.28 ERA in 29 innings of work, but looked particularly good on Saturday when he allowed one run on six hits in 5.1 innings of work while his fastball nearly reached 100 mph. He looks really good, Boone added. I think this outing was a little more with probably competition in mind, like going to get guys out and stepping on it stuff-wise."
"Cole's return provides more front-line reinforcements for a Yankees rotation that has been one of the best in baseball throughout the early portions of the 2026 campaign. Cam Schlittler is looking like a bona fide Cy Young candidate, and the club also just got Carlos Rodon back from offseason elbow surgery, but they will be without Max Fried after he suffered a left elb"
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