New York Yankees were playing their cards right this off-season. They were on the roll, and Brian Cashman went all-out spending money at the right places, bolstering their roster. And they seemed to be in a solid place, even after the Juan Soto exodus. However, as luck would have it, one by one, like toppling dominoes, the players fell. The latest one in the cascade is Gerrit Cole.
The Bronx went silent when they heard that Cole needed Tommy John surgery. They were holding on to the hope that a second opinion could magically change things. But let’s be real, that was just wishful thinking. Losing Cole for the year is a nightmare for the Yankees. But it’s not just his team that feels for him; even across town, where the New York Mets and Yankees rivalry runs deep, there is someone who feels for Cole – Clay Holmes.
The former teammate of Cole and someone who spent four seasons in the Bronx before signing a three-year, $38 million deal, couldn’t be more sorry. He had joined the New York Post Sports The Show podcast, and there, despite him being a rival for the Yankees now, kept things real—Gerrit Cole’s absence was a loss for the game.
Holmes said, “It’s tough. I know it’s tough on him. It’s news that nobody wants to hear. He’s a guy that has set the benchmark in a lot of ways.” And he isn’t wrong. Cole has been a model of consistency for years, rarely missing time. Holmes acknowledged that for anyone, two Tommy John surgeries are anyways rare despite the fact that Cole made it so long in his career while throwing as hard as he could despite the adversities.
“It’s tough for him. It’s a hard thing for anybody to swallow. You’re missing time. The game’s been taken away from you a little bit,” said Holmes. But he gave everyone the real picture—there is no easy fix. And he isn’t wrong. The 34-year-old is coming out from a season where, in 17 starts, he has an ERA of 3.41. Gerrit Cole tossed 29.0 innings over five postseason starts with a head-turning 2.17 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and just seven earned runs allowed. Long story short: he was the key to the Yankees reaching the World Series and is a tough arm to replace.
Plus, the real problem lies in the fact that the Yankees are already down another key starter—Luis Gil. He dealt with a prolonged lat strain injury and will miss at least three months of game time. This means right now, the rotation is just not where the team expected. Last time Cole at least got to start the season in the end. But this time, he is out for the season and perhaps even much of 2026 as well. For the Yankees, this is a massive setback to overcome even before the season starts.
Insider gives bold advice after Gerrit Cole’s surgery update
So right now it’s no secret that the Yankees are not where they want to be. The NY-based outfit’s fans are disheveled with the way things are. Forget the World Series; the lineup is so thin, even a division title seems a stretch now. Still, giving up is not a possibility in the Bronx, and hence MLB insider Zachary D. Rhymer put forth an idea – one that involves a certain J.D. Martinez.
Now the suggestion might sound strange since Martinez didn’t do anything spectacular or eat up innings on the mound. But Rhymer thinks that the Yankees could do with some offense right now, especially since Giancarlo Stanton is also dealing with his injuries to both elbows and a potential surgery. Without him, the New York roster needs the firepower, and Martinez brings plenty of it. Last season, he hit .272 with 16 home runs and 57 RBIs in 89 games.
Sure, he might not be the same hitter who terrorized the pitchers, but he makes for a reliable bat. Rymer also put forth Anthony Rizzo’s name, despite Rizzo being 35 years old, and struggling after suffering a concussion. All this, on top of only managing .228 with eight home runs last season. Plus, Paul Goldschmidt is now locked on first base; he doesn’t fit well.
For now, proper calculation is what the Yankees need to do if they want to remain competitive in the very tough AL East. Whom do you think they can get in? Let us know in the comments.
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