Gerrit Cole DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reports that New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole's (elbow) UCL surgery included internal bracing, according to the team, which can reduce inflammation and speed up the recovery time. It means that Cole is closer to a 12-month recovery than if he had the traditional Tommy John surgery. Cole will still miss the entire 2025 season, but the internal-brace procedure means that he could have a chance to be ready right around the start of the 2026 season, depending on how he fares during his rehab. Fantasy managers that already drafted the 34-year-old former American League Cy Young winner in single-year leagues can dump him now that he's officially out for the year. The Yankees are also going to be without starter Luis Gil (lat) to begin the year, which means that both veteran Marcus Stroman and pitching prospect Will Warren figure to open the year in the starting rotation.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament. He will miss the entire 2025 season. The 34-year-old underwent testing on his right elbow over the weekend. He went for a second opinion earlier on Monday. In addition to missing the entire 2025 campaign, the 34-year-old could also be in danger of missing a significant portion of the 2026 season as well. Last season, Cole missed time due to elbow inflammation but was able to log 95 innings with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He tallied 99 punchouts and held a 7.4 percent walk rate. He generated a modest 3.61 xERA with a .226 xBA. In addition to Cole, right-handed pitcher Luis Gil (lat) is set to miss at least three months of action. This will open the door for Marcus Stroman to have a permanent spot in the rotation and potentially prospect Will Warren to open the season as the No. 5 option.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) is in Los Angeles on Monday to meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, according to manager Aaron Boone. Cole is seeking a second opinion after it was reported on Sunday evening that he has been recommended to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. While nothing is official yet, the 34-year-old former American League Cy Young winner should be avoided in fantasy formats with the distinct possibility that he won't be pitching at all in 2025. Even if Cole likes what ElAttrache says on Monday and he decides to go with a non-surgical route, he is going to be out for the foreseeable future and will probably require TJ surgery eventually. We'll have more information on Cole when it becomes available, but things are looking grim for the Yankees' ace right now.

The ominous "concern" surrounding New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole's throwing elbow received some devastating clarity on Sunday when it was reported that the veteran has been recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery. The six-time All-Star is still awaiting a second opinion, but GM Brian Cashman had already stated they were preparing for the worst. It would be a big blow to the Yankees' hopes of making another World Series run and for any fantasy managers who already drafted the former Cy Young winner. When one door closes, another one opens, though, and New York's fifth-overall prospect Will Warren could nab a rotation spot in the absence of Cole. Warren has been impressive this spring, allowing just one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out 11 in eight innings of work. Keep an eye out for the results of Cole's second opinion, but for now, it looks like he should be avoided in drafts, while Warren could be a worthwhile flier in later rounds.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is "concerned" about the status of his throwing elbow. However, the right-hander is seeking second opinions and that he has "some hope." Cole underwent testing on his throwing elbow on Friday evening. Cole dealt with inflammation in this throwing elbow last season, which kept him sidelined for almost the entire first half. As a result, it appears Cole and the Yankees are preparing for the worst-case scenario as Cole may need to miss time in the regular season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as a second option could provide clarity on his injury. When he returned to action last season, the 34-year-old held a 3.41 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP across 95 innings. He tallied 99 punchouts and held a solid 7.4 percent walk rate. If Cole were to miss time, this could open the door for prospect Will Warren to begin the season in the major leagues.