The New York Yankees made a tough decision on Thursday, placing their ace Gerrit Cole on the 60-day injured list due to elbow inflammation. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner had hoped for a quick return to the mound, but will now be sidelined for an extended period of time.
Cole had announced on March 16 that he would need to rest and heal his ailing throwing elbow, citing nerve irritation and edema as the cause of his troubles. This news came as a blow to the Yankees, who had finalized their Opening Day roster earlier in the day.
In addition to Cole, the Yankees also moved pitchers Tommy Kahnle and McKinley Moore to the 15-day disabled list, and infielders DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza to the 10-day IL. The team made some roster moves, adding infielder Jon Berti, recalling right-hander Luis Gil, and signing Nick Burdi to a major league contract.
Cole had only pitched twice this spring, once in a Grapefruit League game on March 1 and then in a simulated game six days later. The UCLA product has been known for his durability, making at least 30 starts in every season since 2017, with the exception of the shortened 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 33-year-old pitcher is coming off a stellar season in which he led the American League in ERA (2.63) and innings pitched (209), while racking up 222 strikeouts. The Yankees will open their 2024 season on the road against the Houston Astros, with Néstor Cortés set to start for the Yankees in a left-handed matchup against Framber Valdez.