Although New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole is awaiting a second opinion on his elbow injury, he has already been advised to undergo Tommy John surgery. If he proceeds with the surgery, his 2025 season will be over before it even begins.
The Yankees may want to consider pursuing Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara as a replacement for Cole. Replacing Cole, who is one of the best pitchers in baseball when healthy, will be incredibly difficult. The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner dealt with an elbow issue last season that sidelined him for three months, but he returned strong during the postseason. The initial plan for the Yankees was to have Cole and new addition Max Fried lead the rotation. With Cole potentially out for the entire season, the team will need to look elsewhere for a top pitcher.
Alcantara could be an ideal replacement. The former Cy Young Award winner is coming off Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for the entire 2024 season, but the 29-year-old is now fully recovered and aims to bounce back this year.
The Marlins have been rumored to be open to trading Alcantara given the current state of their roster, and the Yankees could become a serious contender for him. However, acquiring Alcantara won’t come cheap. Miami is aware of New York’s need for a starter and may demand some of the Yankees’ top prospects in exchange. Alcantara’s last full season in 2023 saw him pitch 184.1 innings with 151 strikeouts and a 4.14 ERA. The previous year, he won the Cy Young Award with a 2.28 ERA, 207 strikeouts, and a league-leading six complete games. Known for his ability to log deep innings, Alcantara would be a valuable asset to the Yankees, especially with their current injury concerns.
While there’s been no movement yet between the Yankees and Alcantara, once Cole’s situation is confirmed, New York will likely reach out to inquire about the star right-hander.
