Going into spring training, there are a lot of questions surrounding the New York Yankees starting rotation. There is no doubt that they have one of the top rotations in MLB; however, questions remain about the health of some of their key starters.
Gerrit Cole is coming off Tommy John Surgery, left-hander Carlos Rodón had a bone spur removed from his pitching elbow, and Luis Gil tossed just under 60 innings in 2025, one year after winning American League Rookie of the Year in 2024.
You can see why general manager Brian Cashman would be in the market looking to add more starting pitching. You can never have enough, especially in a loaded AL East. Some depth options are remaining, and one interesting free agent was predicted to sign with the Yankees.
New York Yankees Predicted to Sign Lucas Giolito
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicted where the top 10 remaining free agent pitchers will land. Former Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito remains an option for teams. Kelly predicted that the Yankees would come and sign their heated rivals’ free agent after just one season in Boston.
“Lucas Giolito may seem like an awkward fit in the sense that he’s hardly been an ironman in recent years. He missed all of 2024 after undergoing an internal brace procedure on his right elbow. He wasn’t available when the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in the ALWCS last year because of right elbow discomfort,” Kelly wrote.
Giolito not being available for the wild-card series last fall was huge. He was penciled in to start a deciding Game 3, which ended up going to rookie Connelly Early. Given the season Giolito had, going 10-4 in 26 starts with a 3.41 ERA. Giolito has been a durable starter when healthy, working 145 innings last season after surgery. He’s capable of throwing 150-180 innings a season when healthy.
“But in between those two occurrences of elbow issues, the former All-Star revived his career, going 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA across 145 innings. Adding that type of arm to Aaron Boone’s rotation would be big in what is almost certainly baseball’s toughest division,” added Kelly.
New York Yankees Could Use Rotation Depth With Questions Surrounding Health
New York dealt with injuries to their rotation last season. That allowed Cam Schlittler to come up and be a big part of their rotation. The 24-year-old, who turns 25 on February 5, made 14 starts, going 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 73 innings and striking out 84, and impressed enough to start Game 3 against Boston and Early.
Max Fried is back to headline the rotation to begin the season, but after Fried, Cashman has a lot of questions surrounding a rotation that can’t afford a slow start in 2026 in a division that got significantly better this offseason. However, there is one reason why signing Giolito is an option for the Yankees compared to some other remaining free agents.
“Giolito didn’t receive a qualifying offer, so it wouldn’t cost any draft-pick compensation to sign him. His recent injury history almost certainly will prevent him from getting more than two years, and it’s possible the 31-year-old ultimately signs for just a season,” pointed out Kelly.
In terms of the Yankees, Giolito would not break the bank with a contract. A two-year deal around $40 million might get it done. That would be a win for both sides.
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