The New York Yankees will be without their ace, Gerrit Cole, for the entire season after he was scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery. This procedure will keep him sidelined for at least 12 months, potentially extending into the 2026 season. As a result, the Yankees will need to find a replacement for Cole to avoid a significant setback this year.
Bleacher Report’s Jack Murray recently suggested St. Louis Cardinals starter Sonny Gray as a potential replacement. Gray, who previously spent a year and a half with the Yankees before moving to the Cincinnati Reds, could be an affordable option.
Murray pointed out that while Gray may not be a flashy choice due to his age and past tenure with the team, he has experienced a career resurgence in recent years. In 2024, Gray pitched 166.1 innings, posting a 13-9 record with a 3.84 ERA.
Sonny Gray
The Yankees will likely want to hold onto their top prospects—such as Jasson Dominguez, Will Warren, and Spencer Jones—since they are integral to the team’s future. This makes it unlikely that New York would trade them away for a high-profile ace like Sandy Alcántara or Dylan Cease.
Instead, a pitcher like Gray could be a more affordable option while still offering strong talent. Since leaving the Yankees, Gray has posted a 3.35 ERA, 3.30 FIP, and 1.13 WHIP over 836 2/3 innings, accumulating nearly 20.0 WAR. At the price Gray could likely be acquired for, he represents one of the best value pitchers available. If the Yankees are willing to absorb a significant portion of his contract, they might not need to give up much in terms of prospects to land him.
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