Cole seeks second opinion with elbow surgery still on table

TAMPA, Fla. – For the second consecutive spring, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has traveled to Los Angeles to seek an additional opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache regarding the state of the right-hander’s elbow.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Cole’s latest trip to the West Coast while speaking on the YES Network during Monday’s Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. Cole has said he is “concerned” about the potential for surgery. If it is determined that Cole requires Tommy John surgery, it would be a season-ending procedure.

“Unfortunately, sometimes it’s part of the game,” Boone said after the Yankees’ 10-2 win over Detroit. “We missed him for the first couple of months last year [at] this time of year. It created opportunities that guys stepped up in. Whatever happens, whatever it is, we’re going to support our guy and try to get him right and be there for him.”

Cole reported discomfort following his most recent spring outing on Thursday, in which he permitted six runs over 2 2/3 innings against the Twins. Initial imaging was performed on Friday, with Cole saying the next day he planned to seek additional opinions before deciding on a course of action.

Last March, Cole was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation and edema in his pitching elbow, an injury that delayed his season debut until June.

“If it is where he does have to go get surgery, hopefully that’s something that serves us well in the long haul, instead of if he’s compromised at all or in a tough situation,” Boone said. “The reality is, Gerrit still has a lot of pitching in front of him in his career, and pitching with the Yankees. We want that to be as successful as it’s been already, and we’ll just go from there.”

The Yankees have been slammed by injuries this spring, including two significant blows to their rotation. In addition to losing Cole, Luis Gil is dealing with a high-grade right lat strain that is expected to keep the right-hander out of action for at least three months.

Max Fried is expected to slide in as the Bombers’ Opening Day starter, joined in the rotation by Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt.

Cole’s injury may open a spot for rookie Will Warren, who limited the Tigers to two runs and two hits over 3 2/3 innings on Monday and has pitched to a 1.54 ERA in 11 2/3 innings this spring. Non-roster invitees Carlos Carrasco and Allan Winans are also being considered.

“It’s not a death sentence for us by any means,” Boone said. “It’s an opportunity for someone else.”

Will, I am
Warren said this spring has been a good opportunity to “show who Will Warren is,” which prompted this question: How would the right-hander describe himself to fans who might not have seen much of him, beyond a handful of starts last season?

“A competitor,” Warren replied. “I want to attack the zone early, get after it, and at the end of the day just keep the team in the game [to] get us in a position to win.”

A good example of that came in Monday’s start against Detroit, which Warren described as “gritty.” Warren walked one and struck out one in the 57-pitch (33-strike) outing, during which he surrendered a two-run double to former teammate Gleyber Torres.

“It’s nice to get one of those out of the way and compete a little bit,” Warren said. “Just attacking the zone, even if I’m behind in the count, shows where I’m at [with] trying to minimize the damage.”

Boone said Warren has improved his command with his four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup, noting that those pitches should help Warren against left-handed hitters. Last season in the Minors, lefties posted an .860 OPS against Warren, compared to a .679 OPS for righties.

“I feel like he’s way ahead of where he was at this time last year in that regard,” Boone said.

Back up north
Giancarlo Stanton was in New York on Monday for a third round of platelet-rich plasma injections in his ailing elbows. Boone said Stanton, who recently spent 11 days in New York while dealing with a personal issue, is not expected to return to camp on Tuesday.

Stanton has been unable to swing a bat since mid-January due to what he described as “severe” pain in both elbows. The Yankees have said Stanton will begin the season on the injured list, and Stanton said there is no timeline for resuming baseball activities.