Former 18-game winner has massive opportunity after Luis Gil injury

Former 18-game winner has massive Yankees opportunity following Luis Gil injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael DeRosa | Last updated Mar 5, 2025 8:58 PM ET

On Monday, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided a brutal injury update regarding Luis Gil. The Yankees skipper announced that Gil has suffered a high-grade lat strain and cannot throw for the next six weeks. Therefore, the Yankees will be without last year's American League Rookie of the Year for the start of the season.

This is undoubtedly a tough blow for the Yankees, as Gil has emerged as a key part of their rotation. In 29 games this past season with the AL East club, he sported a 15-7 record, 3.50 ERA and 171 strikeouts.

Now with Gil sidelined, the expectation is that two-time All-Star Marcus Stroman will return to the rotation. However, this is not the only way Gil's injury will impact the Yankees' pitching staff.

While speaking with MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Boone named veteran Carlos Carrasco as among the Yankees' depth options after their five-man starting rotation.

This is notable, as Carrasco is attending Yankees spring training as a non-roster invitee. However, with Gil being out and Boone viewing him as a serviceable depth option, it is fair to wonder if he could get a major league contract from the Yankees in the near future. For this to have any chance of occurring, Carrasco will need to continue to impress as spring training carries on.

Carrasco is looking for the opportunity to have a bounce-back year after a tough 2024 season with the Cleveland Guardians. In 21 games, he had a 3-10 record and a 5.64 ERA.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: