The Yankees hope they will look back fondly on Friday night, May 22, 2026 as a positive pivot point in their season.
That the loss for familiar reasons — not enough offense, terrible relief pitching — will blend into the long schedule and be remembered ultimately as a moment of re-entry by Gerrit Cole and that it will be meaningful, yes, because it is Gerrit Cole and if the Yankees get him back in full, then they are reclaiming one of the best starters in the world.
But it goes beyond that. The Yankees rotation was the strength of the squad even without Cole and Carlos Rodón. With them and, ultimately, Max Fried to join Cam Schlittler — if the Yankees can get to that, it is not only their ideal starting unit. But it gives them options to address this problematic pen.
They can potentially put Ryan Weathers’ power lefty arm into the pen. They could, with a run of health, feel more comfortable removing some depth by transitioning Carlos Lagrange’s power righty arm at Triple-A from starter to 103 mph relief. This pen is going to have to be addressed. Because too often in the connective tissue between starter and the finish line someone steps out of the relief chorus line to fail.
