The New York Yankees will be looking to get back to the drawing board and assemble the best possible team they can for the 2026 season. But remember when they tried to do the same thing at the start of 2025, and injuries played a big part. Well, it might have happened to this extent, but the same might be happening again. But this time things are a bit different. It was revealed a few days ago by Aaron Boone that in the current scenario, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will not be the starters at the start of the 2026 season.

After this was revealed, one more major crossroad popped up. In a YouTube channel named NYY NEWS TODAY, they said, “Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole are both likely to start next season on the injured list… the Warren situation gets absolutely fascinating… his 2025 numbers look decent enough… the underlying metrics are telling a completely different story… They’re straight-up air raid sirens blaring… Still has trade value right now… using Warren as the centerpiece for a deal that brings back either proven rotation help or offensive firepower.”

The Yankees’ 2026 season hasn’t even begun, yet their rotation is already facing a storm. Cole is still battling the shoulder problem that bothered him throughout 2025. And Rodon’s elbow issues continue to limit his workload. With both likely to miss the start of the season, the team’s depth looks fragile, leaving a heavy burden on younger arms like Will Warren to stabilize things.

Will Warren’s rookie year looked solid on paper, with a 4.44 ERA and 171 strikeouts across 162.1 innings. But a deeper look reveals serious cracks, including a 91 mph average exit velocity that ranks in the 7th percentile. His 45.3 percent hard-hit rate and 5.27 xERA in the second half showed how quickly hitters adjusted to him. Those warning signs, paired with a rough postseason outing where he allowed six runs in 4.2 innings, suggest the league may already be catching up.

That’s why the Yankees need to act smartly while Warren’s trade value is still high. Other teams see his youth, control through 2030, and strikeout potential as upside worth paying for. Moving him now could bring in the rotation help or lineup depth New York desperately needs after another early postseason exit. If luck abandons him early in 2026, Warren might stumble out of the gate. The Yankees could then find themselves scrambling, trying to recover lost ground quickly.

The Yankees have the talent, but timing has never been their strongest pitch. Cole and Rodón’s injuries are déjà vu the Bronx never asked for, yet here we are. If Brian Cashman plays this wrong, Warren’s next pitch might be for someone else’s highlight reel.

The Yankees are already eyeing big names in the pitching department

The New York Yankees have made it clear: mediocrity won’t be tolerated in the Bronx. While other teams nibble at modest upgrades, New York is plotting something far bolder. Because “good enough” has never won championships here. This winter, expect the front office to shake up the pitching hierarchy, with a plan so audacious it could make contenders elsewhere blush. The rotation is about to get a serious makeover.

The Yankees are reportedly targeting elite pitchers this offseason, with Joe Ryan and Tarik Skubal as primary options. Their projected 2026 rotation already includes Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, and Gerrit Cole returning from surgery. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic notes that one final starter spot will be fiercely contested by several young Yankees arms.

To acquire these high-end pitchers, New York could package Luis Gil, Will Warren, or Clarke Schmidt in trades. The Tigers may consider trading Skubal because retaining him through free agency could be financially challenging. Fans are imagining a rotation so dominant it could instantly redefine the Yankees’ chances at ending their championship drought.

If the Yankees successfully land Skubal or Ryan, their rotation could become historically intimidating overnight. Brian Cashman’s willingness to trade promising arms shows New York refuses to settle for anything less. Fans are already dreaming of Cole, Fried, Rodón, and Skubal dominating lineups with ruthless efficiency.