If there's anything Boston Red Sox fans can take solace in this spring, it's that their team is not the only one being plagued by injuries.
The arch-rival New York Yankees are also experiencing their fair share of injury issues early in the season, including some issues with crucial players.
After a surprisingly early exit from Sunday's spring training game against the Braves, rumors began to fly about Aaron Judge and a potential injury. On Monday, rumors have intensified as Judge is expected to sit out of Grapefruit League play until Wednesday with undisclosed soreness.
Judge was the Yankees' main source of offense last season and the team struggled mightily without the slugger in the lineup while he was battling a toe injury. New York's manager Aaron Boone called Judge's injury "mid-spring beat up" and it appears that the team does not consider this to be anything serious — but the Yankees always say that.
It may be another story with 2023 American League Cy Young award winner Gerrit Cole, though. Cole has reported issues with recovery time between starts this spring training and the ace is undergoing an MRI on his throwing arm. The quotes Boone gave about Cole's recovery do not bode well for the Yankees.
As the Yankees deal with injuries to key players, the Red Sox have similar issues
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will have an MRI on his right elbow, manager Aaron Boone told reporters today. Cole is coming off winning the American League Cy Young Award and has had difficulty bouncing back between spring training starts, Boone said.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 11, 2024
“He described it as his recovery before getting to his next start has been more akin to what he feels during the season when he’s making 100 pitches,” Boone said to Brian Hoch of MLB.com. “When he’s throwing 45 and 55, he usually doesn’t have the recovery issues he’s having."
Cole's situation mirrors Lucas Giolito's for the Red Sox — two usually durable pitchers have fallen into issues early in training that could keep them sidelined for long periods. Cole has pitched 200-plus innings five times in his career and Giolito has long been viewed as a reliable innings eater. That could change in 2024.
If Cole and Judge spend the season struggling with injuries, the Red Sox could have a chance to climb higher up the AL East standings than anyone predicted, especially with how well the team is performing without Giolito this spring.
Obviously, we're not rooting for injuries to anyone, but the Yankees potentially missing their most important arm and bat could help level the playing field so the Sox can make a bigger impact this season.