So, the Yankees are running it back 2026. As frustrating as that will feel to many (cue the “getting Gerrit Cole back is like trading for an ace!” proclamations from Yankee brass), there is reason to be optimistic about the strategy. The team that they’re running went an MLB-best 32-12 down the stretch, and at the risk of sounding like Brian Cashman, adding Cole to a team that tied for the most wins in the AL and paced the majors in every offensive category is certainly an enticing proposition.
But, it all begs the question: what version of Gerrit Cole will the Yankees be getting in 2026? Perhaps Cole reverts right back to pre-injury form and posts another season like his 2023 Cy Young campaign, where he led the league in ERA and innings. Maybe we’ll get something like his more erratic 2022, when he showed dominance in the form of a league-leading 257 strikeouts, but also struggled with the long ball. Or, maybe something in between like his abbreviated 2024 season, where Cole looked slightly physically diminished compared to his peak, but still did an admirable job preventing runs while dealing with an elbow injury that would eventually torpedo his 2025 before it even began.
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What do you think? Is this the world where Cole can recapture his peak and put together a late-career Cy Young campaign. Will he need more time to really get back to himself? Is he just a number two or three starter now? The answer could determine the Yankees’ fate in 2026.
It’ll be another packed day on the site as we wind down the offseason and gear up for spring. Matt has you set with today’s season preview, as he takes a look at José Caballero, while Kevin looks back at Roger Peckinpaugh as part of our Birthday series. Kevin also remembers the Brian McCann signing, already 12 years and change ago, while Josh examines the milestones that various Yankees could hit in 2026.