Yankees Spring Training: Cole, Rodon, and the High-Stakes Road Back to October
It may be February on the calendar, but in Tampa, the intensity is already dialed up. For the New York Yankees, this isn’t your typical spring training.
This isn’t just about stretching out arms or watching prospects take some batting practice. This is about survival.
This is about ending a 17-year championship drought that feels like a lifetime in the Bronx.
The mission is clear: win it all. But that’s a tall order when your rotation opens camp looking more like a rehab facility than a pitching staff.
Gerrit Cole: The Ace Awakens
There’s finally some movement on the Gerrit Cole front-and it’s the kind of update that sends a jolt through the Yankees' clubhouse. After missing essentially all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, Cole is trending in the right direction. Manager Aaron Boone revealed that the Yankees’ ace could face live hitters soon, with a possible return to game action before spring training wraps.
No, he’s not going to be on the bump for Opening Day. But the fact that we’re even talking about a potential April return is a massive win for a team that’s been holding its breath since last March.
And let’s not forget who we’re talking about here. Even in 2024-while managing an elbow that would soon need surgery-Cole was dominant when it mattered most.
He posted a microscopic 0.71 ERA in the World Series, carving up lineups with the same poise and precision that earned him the Cy Young Award in 2023. That year, he finished with a 2.63 ERA, anchoring the staff and proving he could carry a rotation when healthy.
If the Yankees are going to survive the early season grind and keep pace in an AL East that looks like a buzzsaw, they need their ace back-and they need him close to form. Cole isn’t just the leader of this rotation. He’s the tone-setter for the entire team.
Carlos Rodon: The Wild Card with Ace Upside
Then there’s Carlos Rodon, the lefty who finally delivered in 2025-and then went under the knife again.
Rodon’s bounce-back season was one of the few bright spots for New York last year. He went 18-9, posted a strong 3.09 ERA, and racked up over 200 strikeouts.
After a rocky debut season in pinstripes, he looked every bit like the $162 million arm the Yankees thought they were getting. The Bronx jeers turned into cheers.
But an offseason elbow scope to clean up loose bodies brought back the familiar concern: Can he stay healthy?
According to Boone, Rodon isn’t far behind Cole in his recovery timeline. That’s an encouraging sign.
If both arms are back before May, the entire dynamic of this rotation shifts. Instead of trying to tread water, the Yankees can start thinking about going on the attack.
Max Fried and the Stopgap Crew
While Cole and Rodon work their way back, the Yankees are leaning hard on Max Fried-and they’ll need every bit of his veteran presence. Fried is a proven frontline starter, but he can’t carry the load alone. Behind him, the Yankees are counting on a mix of young arms and unproven depth to keep the ship afloat.
Luis Gil and Ryan Weathers will be in the spotlight early, and all eyes will be on Cam Schlittler, the young righty who’s quickly becoming a name to watch. Schlittler has the kind of upside that could make a real difference if he clicks early.
Still, this is a razor-thin margin for error. Spring training is notorious for unexpected setbacks-a sore arm here, a tight shoulder there-and any delay in Cole or Rodon’s return could stretch this rotation to its limit.
The Gamble in the Bronx
The Yankees didn’t overhaul the roster this winter. Brian Cashman mostly stood pat, betting on internal growth and health over splashy additions. That puts enormous pressure on the medical staff and on the arms already in-house.
It’s a risky strategy, no doubt. But in New York, playing it safe hasn’t brought home a title since 2009.
If Cole and Rodon return healthy and effective, the Yankees have the kind of top-end rotation that can go toe-to-toe with anyone. But if either one falters-or if the early-season patchwork can’t hold-this team could be staring down another year of what-ifs.
The stakes are sky-high. The margin for error is slim. And in Tampa, the countdown to a make-or-break season has already begun.