Yankees Could Sign Two-Time All-Star To Boost Rotation After Losing Gerrit Cole

The New York Yankees have some work to do but are running out of time. 

New York will kick off the 2024 in just over one week and yet there is a glaring hole in the starting rotation. The Yankees recently lost 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole to an elbow injury and he will be out for at least one or two months.

Since the announcement of Cole's injury, the Yankees have been linked to a handful of hurlers. New York missed out on 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to the San Francisco Giants because of a high price tag.

If the Yankees are going to make another addition, it likely will be a cheap one. New York will be forced to pay a large tax if it hands out a large deal. 

One player who has been floated as a possible option for New York and could make sense is two-time All-Star Johnny Cueto, according to MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald.

"Opening Day is next Thursday but the club still has options, with various pitchers still unsigned thanks to this slow offseason," McDonald said. "The club has been connected to pitchers like Michael Lorenzen and Jordan Montgomery, both of whom remain unsigned. Free agency also features guys like Mike Clevinger, Johnny Cueto, and Noah Syndergaard. Earlier this month, reporting suggested Montgomery was still holding out for a seven-year deal but the other guys won’t require significant expenditures to sign."

Cueto is 38 years old so he likely will receive a deal in the Yankees' budget. Although he is on the older side, he could be a solid pickup. Cueto struggled in 2023 with the Miami Marlins and had a 6.02 ERA in 13 appearances, but had a 3.35 ERA in 2022 in 25 appearances with the Chicago White Sox. 

If he could return to his 2022 form, he could help boost the Yankees' rotation.