The New York Yankees have gotten a concerning update on Gerrit Cole following his first start of Spring Training, as the ace felt some abnormal discomfort in his right elbow and was scheduled to undergo an MRI.
While it’s too early to push the panic button in New York, the Yankees were already tied to some additional pitching help this offseason, named by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale as the sole team to make a formal offer to reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.
With Cole’s status uncertain, the Yankees might redouble those efforts. And if they do want to sign an immediate replacement for Cole, Christopher Kline of FanSided wrote that they should consider bringing in six-time All Star Zack Greinke.
In 20 big-league seasons, Greinke has a career 3.49 ERA, 2,979 strikeouts and more than 3,389 innings pitched. In addition to his numerous All-Star bids, he holds a Cy Young Award from 2009, six Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards.
Greinke is looking to pitch again in 2024 and is projected to earn a $10 million deal for 2024, per Spotrac.
But, as Kline noted, his 5.06 ERA 2023 season with the Kansas City Royals suggested that the 40-year-old may not be all that he once was on the mound.
“On one hand, Greinke was still impressively durable for a pitcher of his age and with his injury history,” he added. “He managed 142.1 innings for a team in the MLB basement (last season). He still packs a robust four-pitch arsenal with impressive location control, landing in the 98th percentile for
