The New York Yankees face a significant challenge as their ace, Gerrit Cole, is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. With the reigning Cy Young winner sidelined for the entire 2025 season and potentially part of 2026, the team must find a way to compensate for his absence. Additionally, they will also be without Luis Gil, who is expected to miss three months due to injury.
Internally, the Yankees have several options, including experienced pitchers like Carlos Rodón, Max Fried, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt, all of whom are already part of the roster. Other potential candidates include Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco. However, as the Yankees have demonstrated in the past, having enough pitching depth is always a priority.
Given this need, the Yankees might explore trade opportunities to bolster their rotation. However, at this stage, their most likely course of action is to sign a veteran free agent who can provide additional support. With it being March, no hidden gems are available, so any signing would come with limitations but could still be beneficial in the right conditions.
Here are five free agents the Yankees could consider if they choose to bring in reinforcements:
Kyle Gibson
At 37, Gibson remains open to continuing his career. The Chicago Cubs have shown interest in him, and he offers reliability as a pitcher who stays healthy, takes the mound consistently, and logs innings—valuable attributes for a fifth starter. Last season, he posted an 8-8 record with a 4.24 ERA in 30 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals. The year before, he went 15-9 with a 4.73 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles.
Patrick Corbin
Despite a rough track record in recent seasons, Corbin remains an option. The 35-year-old left-hander has a career record of 103-131 and led either the National League or the Majors in losses from 2021 to 2023. Last season, he went 6-13 with a 5.62 ERA for the Washington Nationals. However, his durability is notable—he has started at least 30 games in four consecutive seasons and in seven of the last eight. His availability could be an asset.
Lance Lynn
Set to turn 38, Lynn still finds ways to contribute effectively. In 23 starts for the Cardinals last season, he recorded a 7-4 record with a 3.84 ERA. Despite his age, he continues to perform well, with last year’s ERA being his lowest since 2022 (3.99). As recently as 2021, he was an All-Star, proving he can still compete at a high level.
Zach Davies
Davies did not pitch in the Major Leagues last season, but his career numbers show promise. With a lifetime record of 60-58 and a 4.36 ERA, he has been a reliable option in the past. His workload has declined over the past three seasons, but in smaller sample sizes, he has delivered solid results. For example, in 2020, he posted a 2.73 ERA across 12 starts.
Domingo Germán
A familiar name for Yankees fans, Germán remains unsigned. His standout season came in 2019 when he went 18-4, though he surprisingly did not receive a single Cy Young vote. However, his recent performances have been underwhelming. Last season with Pittsburgh, he struggled, finishing with an 0-1 record and a 7.84 ERA in seven games (two starts). His last full season as a starter was in 2019.
At this point, the free-agent market is thin, and the Yankees may be better off assessing their in-house options before making any moves. However, if they decide to bring in an external reinforcement, these are some of the best available choices.
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