The New York Yankees need to navigate the first half of the 2026 MLB season without key players in the starting rotation. Nonetheless, they’ll be getting them back at various points in the campaign as the Yankees hope to have a healthy rotation for the second half.
Carlos Rodón is expected to start on the injured list, with a return around April or May, while Gerrit Cole is projected to come back in late May or early June following his 2025 Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Clarke Schmidt, also recovering from Tommy John, could return in the second half of the season.
On Jan. 28, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spoke to the media and shared injury updates on Rodón and Cole.
“Carlos is here in Tampa, and I think Gerrit will be joining sooner than later as well,” Cashman said (h/t SNY). “So no surprises so far in their rehab protocols. If anything, these are super competitors [and] you’ve got to try to slow them down and protect themselves from themselves because they always want to do more sooner than later.
“They always feel like they’re capable of doing things quicker than their timelines. And that’s true with these alpha dogs that are ready to conquer the world at all times.”
New York Takes Baby Steps With Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole
Moreover, Cashman notes that the Yankees’ medical team is taking it step by step in the rehab process with Rodón and Cole to ensure that, when they are ready to go, there are no setbacks. If New York want to end their World Series drought this upcoming season, they need both pitchers.
“That’s part of their process, too, is making sure that the baby steps or every step in this process gets hit first,” Cashman added. “But when guys feel so good, they want to jump a few steps ahead of time, and trying to keep the reins on to make sure that they stay in the proper time frame. So we had the ultimate result in the end, which is pure health the rest of the way. That’s the ultimate goal. But they’re doing great so far.”
Carlos Rodón Gives Injury Update Ahead of 2026 Season
Meanwhile, Rodón recently gave an injury update during the Jan. 24 edition of “Foul Territory” about his road back from elbow surgery.
“I’m great,” Rodón said on the broadcast. “I’ll be back [Jan. 25] to Florida to keep throwing. So been throwing a lot lately. Just trying to, I guess, lube up this elbow joint and get it going for the season. So it took a lot of bones out, but it’s better now. And now it’s just building up.”
Furthermore, the Yankees standout noted how his elbow is feeling now after the surgery.
“A lot more extension,” Rodón added. “I couldn’t really bend my elbow that very much. I couldn’t button my shirt before, so that was interesting. But now I can do that and touch my head.”
Rodón is 37-26 with an ERA of 4.00 and 462 strikeouts in 79 appearances for the Yankees in his career, per StatMuse.
Yankees Deliver Huge Injury Update on Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón