By now, every New York Yankee fan is going—what’s wrong with this season? Is there a curse at play? Well, it sure seems like it.
First, they took a gamble and didn’t invest in a third baseman, and to their nightmare, the one they trusted is on the outs due to injury. Now even their ace, someone they can piggyback to a championship because he is that good, is also out. Gone for the season, sidelined by Tommy John surgery.
Gerrit Cole won’t just miss this season; he won’t make it even for a part of 2026.
Losing your best pitcher before opening day? That’s brutal. Naturally, the fans are expecting Brian Cashman to get a replacement. When Soto walked off, he was quick to reload after all. But this time, the Yankees are in no hurry at all and Cashman made it crystal clear.
Bryan Hoch reported that Cashman said, “Very little is available” in the pitching marketplace at this time of year. The Yankees will rely internally while exploring outside opportunities.
So, don’t hold your breath for something epic.
Brian Cashman said “very little is available” in the pitching marketplace at this time of year. Said the Yankees will “rely on what we have” while exploring outside opportunities. Luxury tax penalties make it “less likely” they will add from outside, he said.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 11, 2025
No surprises here is what Cashman wanted to convey. And in all fairness, this isn’t December when the market is buzzing with names. Teams have their rotations locked in already. And there is less time for practice too. However, that’s not to say that there are no options. Sure, there are not many, but a few names are floating around for a substitute for Gerrit Cole.
Jim Bowden pitched in names like Sandy Alcantara, a true ace when he is healthy. Then there is Dylan Cease, who has a strong arm, but getting him won’t come cheap. There is Kyle Gibson, too, who is a free agent but, of course, not a game-changer. But one among them seems like the most plausible option – Alcantra. The Marlins are deep in another rebuild, so at some point, they will move him. Well, there is a chance!
But for now, Cashman says they are sticking to their roster. Maybe Cashman has a surprise move up his sleeve. Or maybe the Yankees believe in their current rotation or maybe they want to avoid another luxury tax hit.
New York Yankees refusal to replace Cole—a Steinbrenner issue?
Brian Cashman might not be ignoring the New York Yankees pitching problem. He might just be handcuffed by Hal Steinbrenner’s wallet.
Right now, the Yankees luxury tax payroll sits at an eye-watering $293.8 million. It’s the fourth-highest in all of baseball. They have already walked past three of the four tax brackets. And they are shy of just $3 million of the “Cohen Tax” that is very much dreaded. At this point, every dollar and their spending would be taxed at a 110% rate.
And if you know Hal Steinbrenner, he wants nothing to do with this.
And for a small market team, fitting that financial strain makes no sense. But wait, they are the New York Yankees—the global brand, the big name in baseball. Yet, they have penny-pinched this season to a huge level. In fact, even the fans don’t have much hope in them now.
The Athletic posted this year’s Hope-O-Meter which tells how much percentage of fans are optimistic about a championship. The Yankees were 17th on the list and have an optimism rate of 68.1! They are down from 80.7 percent last year, and it’s easy to see why.
Meanwhile, look at Steve Cohen, their crossroad rival.
They are standing 4th on the list and have an optimism percentage of 95.5%! And here is the kicker – they were just at 38.4 % last season. So, that paints the entire picture – if you don’t spend, fans are not excited nor thrilled. Soto had said, “New York is a Mets town”, and Cohen just proved it, spending money when needed.
For now, the Yankees just have to start with Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, Marcus Stroman, and Will Warren. Thankfully, Luis Gil is going to make a comeback soon.
But what if someone else gets injured? And well, someone will! That’s when the penny-pinching could turn this tough situation into a crisis. Don’t you think?
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