Any dreams of a quick return to the mound for American League Cy Young Award-winning umpire Gerrit Cole were dashed Thursday when the New York Yankees placed the right-hander to the 60-day injured list with elbow inflammation.
On March 16, Cole said he would not throw for three to four weeks in an attempt to treat his ailing elbow, telling reporters that nerve irritation and edema were the source of his problem, with rest and recovery on prescription.
The Yankees finalized their Opening Day roster Thursday morning, also transferring right-handers Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder bursitis) and McKinley Moore (right knee bursitis) to the 15-day IL and infielders DJ LeMahieu (right foot bruise) and Oswald Peraza (right ) shoulder strain) to IL for 10 days. All four moves were retroactive to Monday.
New York also added newly acquired infielder Jon Berti to the active roster, recalled right-hander Louis Gale from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and signed right-hander Nick Burdi to a major league contract and optioned him to the roster.
Cole, 33, has pitched just twice this spring, once in a Grapefruit League game on March 1, then in a simulated game six days later. After that, he was closed and underwent medical examinations.
The UCLA product has been one of the most durable pitchers in the major leagues, making at least 30 appearances in every season since 2017 with the exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
Cole is coming off a season in which he went 15-4 while leading the AL in ERA (2.63) and innings pitched (209). He batted .222 and walked 48.
The Yankees open the 2024 season at the Houston Astros. Nestor Cortes will start for the Yankees against Framber Valdez in a matchup between left-handers.
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