The New York Yankees entered 2024 with towering expectations, but those hopes are teetering after a devastating blow. Star ace Gerrit Cole’s elbow ligament tear sidelined him for at least a few months, leaving a power vacuum at the top of the rotation. The spotlight and crushing pressure now fall squarely on Carlos Rodón. Once seen as a dynamic 1-2 punch with Cole, Rodón must somehow transform into the solo ace a championship team desperately needs. But can he deliver after a disastrous 2023 season? Meanwhile, across the league, another ace-caliber pitcher twiddles his thumbs.

Blake Snell, the San Diego Padres’ 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner, remains a tantalizingly available force on the market. The whispers are growing louder. Is acquiring Snell the Yankees’ only answer? Or will they place their faith in Rodón’s potential, risking their season on a pitcher with everything to prove?

Carlos Rodón’s Checkered Past

Rodón’s 2023 season with the Yankees was a roller coaster of inconsistency. As The Athletic notes, he joined a dubious historical club with an ERA of 6.85 despite significant innings pitched. The Yankees signed him expecting a front-of-the-rotation arm, and time is running out to prove those expectations weren’t misplaced. “He wants to put last year behind him,” manager Aaron Boone admits. “Is there more pressure? Everyone’s watching Carlos right now.”

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Spring Training has been a mixed bag for Rodón. While fans fretted over his initially decreased velocity, market reports point out this could be a typical early-season adjustment for the pitcher. His recent outing reassured some, showing velocity gains with his pitches reaching heights of 97 mph and his signature fastball-slider combo. Despite a costly home run blunder, Carlos Rodón looks physically strong and is posting respectable numbers overall.

Still, the Bombers need him to be the dominant 2021–2022 version of himself—a task made tougher by Cole’s absence. “Hopefully,” Boone said, “he gets back to being a frontline starting pitcher in the league.”

Read More: Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole’s Ominous MRI: Dissecting Worst-Case Scenarios

The Gerrit Cole injury brutally exacerbates the Yankees’ existing pitching depth concerns. The spotlight has shifted; with Cole sidelined, other teams sense vulnerability. Blake Snell, the 2018 Cy Young Award winner, could be the bold answer the Pinstripers need to reassert their dominance.

The Blake Snell Factor

FOX Sports argues passionately, “Now it’s time to go get Blake Snell… If there’s ever a time to go all in if you’re the Yankees, it’s right now.” Snell provides star power and a potential buffer against Cole’s uncertain return timeline. The Yankees might have assembled a fearsome lineup with the likes of Juan Soto and extending Gleyber Torres, Trent Grisham, and Alex Verdugo, but their championship ambitions hinge on pitching.

If Carlos Rodón falters and Gerrit Cole’s return is significantly delayed, the consequences for the Bronx Bombers could be dire. A Snell acquisition isn’t a panacea, but considering his Cy Young winning caliber of posting an average of 3.20 ERA in the last 8 years (he went as low as 1.89 in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays!), it would dramatically bolster a rotation suddenly facing an identity crisis.

Read More: Gerrit Cole’s Scary MRI Leaves Yankees Weighing Stroman, Rodon or Surprise Arm for Opening Day

The pressure on Carlos Rodón is immense and will only continue to mount. His performance in the coming weeks could single-handedly define the Yankees’ season. Whether the solution lies in Rodón finding his old form, Blake Snell joining the rotation and making a formidable pairing alongside Rodón’s fireballs, or a combination of factors, the Yankees have maneuvered themselves into a precarious, all-or-nothing situation. Every move—or lack thereof—from now until Opening Day will be placed under the microscope.