The New York Yankees need to reconsider their starting pitcher situation following an injury to Luis Gil. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Gil, suffered a high-grade lat strain last week and will be sidelined for an extended period, with a potential return not expected until June at the earliest. This injury only adds to the concerns the Yankees already had about their rotation going into spring training. Clarke Schmidt had missed several months last year due to a lat strain, and Gerrit Cole didn’t return until June after an elbow injury. Additionally, Carlos Rodón has his own history of injuries, including a forearm issue that kept him out for much of 2023.
Given these uncertainties, the Yankees are in need of pitching depth, and former All-Star Kyle Gibson appears to be a logical option. Gibson, a familiar name to Yankees fans, is a durable innings-eater who has played for several teams over his 12-season career. He owns a career record of 112-108 with a 4.52 ERA. Last year, he went 8-8 with a 4.24 ERA in 30 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals. While not a flashy name, Gibson has consistently started at least 30 games in seven seasons, including 33 starts in 2023, which led the league.
At his best, Gibson is a reliable, replacement-level pitcher who will take the mound every fifth day without complaint. This is precisely the kind of pitcher the Yankees need, especially after Marcus Stroman publicly stated he wouldn’t pitch out of the bullpen earlier in camp. With Gil out, Stroman might be pushed into a more prominent role, but the Yankees could certainly use another experienced arm like Gibson.
Adding Gibson on a minor-league deal presents no significant risk, especially considering that he has not yet announced his retirement despite remaining unsigned throughout the offseason. The possibility that Gibson could play a key role in the Yankees’ success, especially if they were to win their 28th championship, should be enough to persuade the team to give him a chance in spring training.
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