The New York Yankees’ starting rotation is hanging by a thread, as injuries continue to pile up for the defending American League champions. With Gerrit Cole out for the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the team is now desperately hoping that Clarke Schmidt and reigning Rookie of the Year Luis Gil can recover sooner than expected to stop the bleeding.
The rotation depth took another hit when No. 2 pitching prospect Chase Hampton was shut down in Spring Training with elbow discomfort. Instead of risking further damage, he opted for Tommy John surgery, ending his 2025 season before it even began.
As a result, the Yankees — who managed to scrape together a one-run win against the Tigers on Wednesday to move to 7-5 — have had to plug their rotation with arms that weren’t in their plans for 2025.
Unexpected Starters in the Bronx
Marcus Stroman, who was on the trading block all winter after a late-season collapse in 2024 (which got him left off the playoff roster), is now two starts into the season. So far, it’s been rough — he’s allowed seven runs in just 8 2/3 innings.
Will Warren, once the organization’s top pitching prospect, has been thrown into the fire and has given up six earned runs over nine innings in two starts.
Then there’s Carlos Carrasco, a 38-year-old veteran signed on a minor league deal. Once a Spring Training standout, Carrasco has had a disastrous start to the season, posting a 7.71 ERA. His velocity has dipped below 92 mph, and as Empire Sports Media put it, “the Yankees’ rotation has looked more like a leaky boat than a fine-tuned machine.” When hitters aren’t worried about heat, it’s open season — and Carrasco is paying the price.
A Better Option Still on the Market?
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report offered up a potential fix: free agent Spencer Turnbull, one of 59 unsigned MLB players three weeks into the season.
“Turnbull is out there, waiting, while fans across North America are screaming for their teams to act,” Miller wrote.
From 2018–2024, Turnbull posted a 3.83 FIP — better than Jack Flaherty and just behind Nathan Eovaldi. After missing all of 2022 with Tommy John and dealing with a neck issue in 2023, Turnbull bounced back with the Phillies in 2024, making 17 appearances (7 starts) and logging a 2.65 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings.
Turnbull also owns a no-hitter, thrown in 2021 against the Seattle Mariners — Detroit’s first since Justin Verlander’s final one in 2011.
Miller questioned why a pitcher with Turnbull’s resume remains unsigned, while the Yankees are starting a struggling Carrasco. Last season, Turnbull earned $2.2 million with Philly, and Spotrac projects his next deal could land around two years, $8.8 million.
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