Source: Yanks’ Cole to have tests on right elbow

• Jorge CastilloMar 7, 2025, 11:38 PM ET

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  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole is scheduled to undergo tests on his right elbow, a source confirmed to ESPN on Friday, nearly a year after he was shut down because of an elbow injury before missing the first 75 games of the 2024 season.

Cole, 34, has pitched six innings in two starts this spring. In his last outing, on Thursday, he surrendered six runs on five hits, including two home runs, across 2⅔ innings against the Minnesota Twins.

A year ago, the ace reported to spring training fresh off winning his first Cy Young Award. By mid-March, the six-time All-Star was shut down because of elbow discomfort. He was later diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema. He avoided surgery and made his season debut June 19.

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Cole pitched his way into form, absorbing some bumpy outings, and remained healthy through the World Series. He finished the regular season with a 3.41 ERA in 95 innings over 17 starts before tallying a 2.17 ERA across five postseason outings.

Three days after the World Series ended, Cole decided to opt out of his contract, which pushed the Yankees to make a choice: let him reach free agency or void the opt-out by adding another year at $36 million to the four years and $144 million left on his deal. The club chose not to extend the contract, but Cole did not become a free agent. Instead, two days after opting out, Cole decided to remain with the Yankees on his original contract.

With that behind him, Cole modified his offseason throwing program, choosing to start his regimen earlier than in the past after sustaining his first arm injury in nearly eight years.

“I’m in a really good spot [compared] to years past and probably slightly ahead of where we were last year,” Cole said at the start of spring training last month.

But the scheduled tests indicate there is some concern regarding Cole’s elbow, adding to a growing list of notable setbacks in Yankees camp. The team is already expected to be without designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows), reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil (lat), third baseman DJ LeMahieu (calf), and right-handers Clayton Beeter (shoulder) and JT Brubaker (ribs) for the start of the season.

The Yankees’ rotation depth has already taken a hit with Gil’s injury, which is expected to sideline him for at least three months. The setback moved Marcus Stroman into the Yankees’ projected rotation. Beyond Stroman, rotation options in camp include Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco, who is with the club as a non-roster invitee.

MLB Network was first to report that Cole would undergo the tests.

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