From MLB.com:
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, the team announced Monday night. The news comes after Cole visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who will perform the operation, in Los Angeles on Monday.
Cole experienced discomfort following a Grapefruit League start on Thursday, which prompted an initial round of diagnostic imaging, and he said he was “concerned” about the state of his pitching elbow.
It is the second consecutive spring with an injury issue for Cole, who won the 2023 American League Cy Young Award and then was sidelined last March by right elbow inflammation and edema that delayed his regular-season debut until June.
I mean, in all seriousness, Cole could have done this last Spring, and HAD he, they very likely wouldn’t have won the American League pennant. They probably weren’t going to win it this year regardless, and now, he can be back in time for the playoffs next season, at which point they might have Kyle Tucker on the roster. So all things considered, I can accept it.
Expected news is expected.
I’d say another year of Cole and Judge’s prime wasted but I think they are technically both out of their primes now.
95% of players I would agree with you, but the special guys like Cole, I really don’t know when their prime ends. The top end guys seem to be still in their prime until they’re, like, 36-37 years old.
Similarly, I don’t know what the fuck is up with Judge. Dudes shouldn’t be improving in their early 30s, so I don’t know what to think about him.
But yes, in general, you’re absolutely right that this is another wasted year, which sucks. Hopefully next year won’t be.
Big Jamba had two of his best years at 39 and 40 so I’m expecting another 7/8 big years from Judge especially when he DHs full time. Also age 32 was the last year Jamba had an OPS+ under 800 so I’m expecting big things from Goldschmidt.
Oh Gerrit Cole…how I miss you…it’s like I can still hear your voice on the wind…
GERRIT COLE (annoyed): I’m still alive you know