The New York Yankees are navigating a winter of careful rehabilitation planning for two of their most important starting pitchers, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. Both are projected to return midway through the 2026 MLB regular season.
Having both hurlers back in mix would be huge for the Bronx Bombers in a 2026 season in which they figure to be contenders in the American League once again.
According to the latest information provided by the club, Rodon has already started to progress through his rehabilitation after offseason surgery to address elbow issues.
Meanwhile, Cole didn’t pitch in 2025 and was limited to only 17 starts in 2024. He hasn’t experienced issues in his rehab while working his way back from Tommy John surgery, and if everything goes well, he’s expected to return to the mound at some point between May and June.
Rodon is progressing as expected
Rodon, who posted a standout 18-9 record with a 3.09 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and 203 strikeouts in 2025, finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting. The southpaw provided encouraging updates about his condition.
Speaking on the January 24 broadcast of Foul Territory, Rodon said, “I’m great. I’ll be back 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.”
He also revealed that his elbow now has “a lot more extension” after the procedure.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has aligned with external projections that place Rodon’s return between late April and early May 2026, provided there are no setbacks in his throwing program.
This would make him one of the earliest reinforcements for a rotation that is likely to open the year thin.
Cole is also trending in the right direction
Cole‘s journey back is slightly more drawn out. The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner had Tommy John surgery in March 2025 and missed the entire season.
The club’s most recent timelines suggest he’s being targeted for a return in May or June, but Cashman has been careful with precise assurances.
During a recent media appearance he stated: “He’ll be ready when he’s ready. No one’s gonna outwork him. He’s prepared both mentally and physically at all times, so we’ll see where it takes us.”
This kind of guarded optimism indicates that while both pitchers are trending toward mid-season comebacks, certainty remains elusive.
Cole‘s recovery from Tommy John, an elbow ligament reconstruction associated with a 12-18 month timeline, is always closely monitored, especially for a 34-year-old hurler with a history of heavy workloads.
Despite his injury history, Cole has been excellent when healthy. He pitched to a 3.41 ERA across 17 starts and 95.0 innings in 2024 before being shut down and has had an ERA of 3.50 or lower in each of his previous seven seasons.
What It Means for the Yankees
Having Rodon and Cole back means the Yankees won’t have to depend solely on their offense as they navigate a grueling 162-game regular season. However, the return of both hurlers also carries significant strategic implications.
A healthy Rodon could bring left-handed balance and veteran stability to the rotation well before the All-Star break while reducing early-season strain for the rest of the rotation.
Meanwhile, Cole‘s mid-season comeback could provide a powerful boost as the Yankees decide what they’ll do in the second half of the season.
If Cole stays healthy, he’d be the equivalent of trading for an ace before the deadline.
The Yankees will have to rely on internal depth to hold down innings in the early stages of the season, where names such as Cam Schlitter, Luis Gil and Will Warren will have to play bigger-than-anticipated roles.
Ultimately, though, having two of baseball’s premier pitchers back in the rotation by mid-2026 wouldn’t just improve the team’s depth, but it could be the difference between an early playoff exit and a deep postseason run into October and November.
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