A few weeks ago, the New York Yankees lost Luis Gil to an injury, with the pitcher expected to be sidelined for at least a month due to a strained lat.
Now, Gerrit Cole is facing an elbow issue and will undergo further tests, with early reports casting a bleak outlook for the Yankees.
If Cole remains out for an extended period, the Yankees may need to make a significant trade to fill his spot in the rotation. CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry recently linked the Yankees to a potential deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, which could bring Erick Fedde to New York as a temporary replacement for Cole.
Perry noted that Fedde, who turns 32 this week, revived his career with a strong 2023 season in Korea. He returned to the U.S. last season with the White Sox and was later traded to the Cardinals, where he logged 177 ⅓ innings, posting a 126 ERA+, a 3.86 FIP, and a WAR of 5.6.
With an affordable contract of just $7.5 million for the upcoming season before hitting free agency, Fedde could be an attractive option for Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, who has been cautious about fully tapping into the team’s financial resources. Fedde represents a logical short-term solution for the Yankees until either Cole or Gil return from injury.
Moreover, acquiring Fedde would be a more cost-effective move compared to pursuing higher-priced pitchers like Luis Castillo or Dylan Cease.
