We Know How To Fix The Yankee Rotation Problem Fast!

With Gerrit Cole down and the specter of surgery looming, the Yankees are staring at a massive hole in their rotation. Max Fried steps up as the ace—rightfully so—but after that? Chaos. Carlos Rodón is a roll of the dice, Luis Gil is still banged up and possibly for the season, Clarke Schmidt is as durable as a paper straw, and Marcus Stroman arrives in the Bronx with a chip on his shoulder. This is a mess, plain and simple.

The New York Post captured Cole’s unease: “Asked if he was worried about having to undergo surgery on the same elbow that caused him to be shut down for much of the first half of last season, Cole said, ‘I’m concerned. I’m hoping for the best.’” Last year, it was elbow nerve inflammation and edema. This year, it’s déjà vu with worse stakes. For a team that aced the offseason, this is a brutal twist.

So, what’s the move? Brace yourselves—I’ve got a suggestion that will get Bronx cheers and Bronx cheers: Sign Trevor Bauer.

Bauer is set to return to Japan’s DeNA BayStars in 2025, but why not bring him back stateside now? Yes, it’s an unpopular idea and with a BayStars contract, I really don’t know how that would work. But here’s the truth: Bauer was effectively blacklisted from MLB over allegations that didn’t hold up, and the league’s so-called investigation was anything but thorough.

Yankees legend David Wells has no problem with a Bauer comeback he said this is 2024. The New York Post wrote this and had Wells quoted saying, “He was a hell of a pitcher. He should go in. I mean, look at all these guys in the past who crap all over themselves and get in trouble. And they got second, third, fourth chances.” He’s not alone—Bauer’s former Dodgers teammate, Mookie Betts, called him a “great guy.”

Like it or not, Bauer can still pitch. He’s dominated in Japan and Mexico, and more importantly, he wants to win. And guess who else wants to win? The Yankees. Judge. Cole. The entire Bronx Zoo. Sitting on their hands until the trade deadline to chase someone like Sandy Alcantara? Bad strategy. (Read BOLD PREDICTION SUGGESTS SANDY ALCANTARA WITH BE IN PINSTRIPES for more on that,) By then, they might be so deep in the standings that a blockbuster move won’t even matter.

Here’s the plan: Max Fried takes the Opening Day start, Bauer slides into the No. 2 slot, followed by Rodón, Schmidt, and Stroman. Suddenly, that rotation doesn’t look so grim. Cole can take his time healing while the Yankees stay competitive.

Rolling into the season without Cole or Bauer is a recipe for disaster. The Yankees have to be aggressive, not timid. Signing Bauer might ruffle feathers, but guess what? Winning does too. Will it happen? Who knows. But should it? Absolutely.

You’re welcome, Yankees fans.