The Yankees have been navigating treacherous waters ever since ace Cole was sidelined with a season-threatening injury. His absence has loomed large over the Bronx, casting a shadow on a starting rotation desperately searching for consistency. However, while hopes initially dimmed, a trio of arms, Clarke Schmidt, Carlos Rodon, and Max Fried, stepped up in Cole’s stead, stringing together strong outings that kept the Yankees’ postseason ambitions alive.

But just as the rotation seemed to be stabilizing, an unsettling development has emerged. The latest update on Clarke Schmidt could once again throw the Yankees’ pitching plans into disarray. Schmidt is having a solid season with a 4-4 record, a 3.32 ERA, and a 1.09 WHIP. He’s been logging the fourth-most innings on the team, trailing only Fried, Rodon, and Will Warren.

So, missing Schmidt for a good time would be too costly for the Yankees. If Aaron Boone’s words are considered, the Yankees are going to miss Schmidt for an extended period. As reported by Bryan Hoch, “Clarke Schmidt will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow, Aaron Boone said.” Yep, it’s not “likely” anymore, it’s confirmed.

Schmidt is currently on the 15-day injured list, but the team will shift him to the 60-day IL when they need the roster spot.

Schmidt exited his start against the Blue Jays last week after just three innings. Later, he shared feeling tightness in his right forearm since early June. Now, as per the latest reports, an MRI revealed damage to his UCL, indicating that surgery is the expected outcome. As admitted by Manager Aaron Boone just 5 days before, surgery is now “inevitable.”

Just when the rotation was regaining traction, things went south for the Yankees. Moreover, this will be Schmidt’s second TJ surgery. And now you know why the concern is even deeper…

Thus, a new addition to the long list of sidelined performers for the Yankees.

Luis Gil is still sidelined with a lat strain. Ryan Yarbrough also hit the IL last month with an oblique issue and hasn’t returned yet. Marcus Stroman, who was out for all of May and most of June, just made his way back. And now, it’s Schmidt!

Currently, the Yankees have slipped out of first in the AL East after a rough stretch and now sit at 51-41. And it couldn’t be a worse time than this to miss a performer from the rotation.

The Yankees are getting younger

Sounds surprising, right? Well, the Yankees are getting younger with injuries to their elite performers. After Schmidt got sidelined last week, the Yankees bought in rookie Cam Schlittler to pitch in. And he has made a strong debut against the Mariners.

The 24-year-old went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out seven. He is one of the Yankees’ top prospects. The 6-foot-6 rookie reportedly threw the team’s seven fastest pitches of the season, and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph is the highest by any Yankees pitcher this year.

Well, we are not placing Schlittler as a replacement for Schmidt, but as you know, the show must go on. And considering the current injury list of the Yankees, they have no other choice but to place a bet on the younger arms.

But is Boone going to rely on Schlittler as a starter? “As good as last night was, we think he’s very capable of that. It’s about continuing to help these guys maximize and get them to be the best they can be,” Boone shared after Schlittler’s debut game.

Well, the 7 SOs and 3 earned runs might have offered a short-term stability to the Yankees’ rotation. But a few more outings might determine if the Yankees got a name for the future.