THIS FREE AGENT COULD BE SOLID FILLER FOR THE YANKEES ROTATION

The Yankees are in trouble, and not the fun, tabloid-headline kind of trouble. 

Their rotation is hanging on by a thread, and that thread just happens to be Gerrit Cole’s elbow. With Luis Gil already shelved for three months and Cole possibly needing Tommy John surgery (which, in baseball terms, is like putting a star player in a witness protection program for a year), the Yankees are scrambling. And scrambling fast—or at least they should be.

Enter Kyle Gibson, the veteran righty who just finished a season with the Cardinals, where he posted a 4.24 ERA and managed 30 starts. Not ace material, but hey, when the house is on fire, you don’t turn down a garden hose. 

Gibson, who signed a $12 million deal with St. Louis before they cut ties, is now floating around free agency. If the Yankees are smart (a big if lately), they’ll at least give him a call before someone else does. Plus, as a bonus, maybe reuniting him with his former Cardinals teammate Paul Goldschmidt could add some good clubhouse vibes.

Now, let’s not kid ourselves—Gibson isn’t a replacement for Cole. He’s not even a replacement for the idea of Cole. He’s a veteran who can hold down a spot in the rotation and eat innings, but if the Yankees think signing him solves their problems, they might as well start planning for another early playoff exit (or worse). This team needs an actual ace, not just a guy who can throw 90 pitches before the bullpen starts warming up in the third inning.

The clock is ticking. Every day they wait is another day closer to a disaster scenario where their rotation is being held together with chewing gum and wishful thinking. If they don’t act soon, the Yankees won’t just be chasing the playoffs—they’ll be chasing .500. And in a division where their rivals are getting stronger, that’s a recipe for disaster. So, Brian Cashman, pick up the phone. 

Make a move. Before it’s too late.