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Yankees manager offers important Carlos Rodon update

Originally posted on Empire Sports Media
By Andres Chavez | Last updated Mar 17, 2026 3:25 PM ET

The New York Yankees are playing a dangerous game of “hurry up and wait” with their pitching staff, but for once, the waiting room actually feels optimistic. If you’ve spent any time around the Bronx lately, you know that vibes can turn sour faster than a subway platform in July. Yet here we are in March 2026, and the updates on Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon aren’t just lukewarm coach-speak. They are legitimate reasons to breathe.

Cole is finally getting back onto a mound that matters tomorrow. He’s set to toss a single inning in his first Grapefruit League appearance of the spring, and let’s be honest, that one inning will be the most scrutinized three outs in Florida. He’s already been spotted touching 97.5 mph in live batting practice. That’s not just “rehab” speed. That’s “I’m still the guy” speed.

For a man coming off Tommy John surgery that stole his entire 2025 campaign, seeing that radar gun light up is a massive middle finger to anyone who thought his arm was cooked at thirty-five.

Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

The Ace’s Shadow and the April Reality Check

We need to be realistic about the calendar. The Yankees are eyeing a late April or early May return for Cole, and they should stick to it. There is zero reason to rush the heartbeat of this rotation when you’ve already invested this much in his recovery. Max Fried and the kid Cam Schlittler can hold the fort for a few weeks. If Cole is truly sitting at 96 mph, the wait is worth every second.

Then there’s the Carlos Rodon situation. Rodon was a flat-out beast in 2025, tossing 195.1 innings and punching out 203 hitters. He was the anchor when everything else was sinking. But that elbow bone spur surgery in October was a reminder of how fragile his career has been.

Manager Aaron Boone is playing it cool, admitting he’s unsure if Rodon will even see a spring training game before camp breaks. That sounds like a red flag, but it’s actually just the Yankees being smart.

Aaron Boone said today that he is unsure if Carlos Rodon will throw in a game before spring training ends, but expects him back at some point in April, according to Chris Kirschner.#Yankees pic.twitter.com/BeLjwYbhZN
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) March 17, 2026

Navigating the Rotation Minefield

Rodon admits he couldn’t even button his own shirt by the time the 2025 postseason rolled around. Think about that for a second. The guy was out there trying to win playoff games while essentially being one-armed. Now that the loose bodies are gone, the team is projecting an April return.

Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

It’s a tightrope walk. If Rodon and Cole both miss the first month, you’re looking at a rotation led by Fried and a bunch of “hope for the best” arms like Will Warren and Ryan Weathers. But if missing April means they will remain healthy for the remainder of the season, they will probably take it.

The Yankees dream of a November where Cole and Rodon are the 1-2 punch that actually finishes the job. To get there, they have to survive a soggy April in the Bronx without them. Cole is on schedule, Rodon is trending right, and the rest of us are just holding our breath. It’s the standard Yankee experience. High stakes, higher blood pressure, and the hope that these million-dollar elbows don’t decide to snap again before the pinstripes actually matter.

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

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