The New York Yankees are holding onto hope — and maybe a bit of faith — that Gerrit Cole will once again anchor their rotation when the 2026 season begins. For all the moves they’ll make this winter, none may matter more than the version of Cole they get back next spring.

Cole has been the Yankees’ unquestioned ace since arriving in 2020, but time and injuries have a way of humbling even the best arms. Now 35 years old, he’s working his way back from Tommy John surgery and the flexor strain that cut his 2024 season short. The Yankees believe he’s trending upward, but no one can predict how a pitcher that age will respond once the innings start piling up again.

The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been

In many ways, 2026 feels like a make-or-break year for the Yankees’ current core. Aa

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