NEW YORK — Carlos Rodon’s latest setback added to a growing list of medical concerns for the New York Yankees. The team confirmed Thursday that the left-hander underwent elbow surgery, sending waves of concern through an already strained pitching staff. Manager Aaron Boone delivered the update at Yankee Stadium, facing tough questions about how his team can endure another major injury blow.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who also performed Gerrit Cole’s Tommy John surgery earlier this year, operated on Rodon in Los Angeles. The procedure involved removing loose bodies and shaving a bone spur in his left elbow. The recovery will sideline Rodon from throwing for at least eight weeks, delaying his 2026 season debut until late April or May.
“When you build in all the ramp-up and the throwing program and getting him ready to be a starting pitcher, that probably delays him potentially a couple of weeks to start the season,” Boone said Thursday. “But everything went well Wednesday.”
Boone addresses mounting rotation crisis
The Yankees’ rotation, once a strength, now sits in crisis. Boone’s calm tone couldn’t disguise the reality: three of his projected starters are expected to miss Opening Day. A staff that helped the Yankees reach the postseason suddenly looks paper-thin.
Boone explained that the Yankees had long been aware of Rodon’s elbow discomfort. The team monitored the issue throughout the 2025 season and opted for surgery after the playoffs.
“We knew at some point it might be something that would have to be dealt with,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “If this presser was three weeks ago, I wouldn’t have had a surgery on my mind for Carlos Rodon, taking him out at the beginning of next year.”
Carlos Rodon, 32, still produced impressive numbers while pitching through the pain. He finished 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA across 195 1/3 innings, holding American League hitters to a .188 batting average — the best mark in the league. His toughness masked the severity of the injury until now.
Surgery details show long-term wear
The specifics of the surgery highlight how much Rodon endured. Loose bodies in the joint and a bone spur both point to chronic stress from years of pitching. The eight-week shutdown only marks the start of his recovery.
Once cleared in December, Rodon will begin a throwing program that gradually builds his arm strength. Facing hitters again will take additional time, and full readiness for major league games may not come until late spring.
“Certainly the last two years have been really good for us with Carlos,” Cashman said. “But I don’t know what that means as far as where we put our remaining resources, and how we reinforce.”
The Yankees signed Rodon to a six-year, $162 million contract before the 2024 season, banking on his durability. His first year in New York was rocky, but he rebounded with strong back-to-back seasons before this latest setback reignited durability concerns.
Boone juggles a growing list of injuries
Thursday’s briefing turned into a medical roll call for the Yankees. Boone addressed updates on several key players, painting a mixed picture of progress and uncertainty.
Gerrit Cole’s recovery remains on schedule. Boone said the ace will throw off a mound next week and is expected to face hitters by spring training. “He’ll meet with Dr. ElAttrache in California next month and again before spring training,” Boone added. The team hopes Cole can rejoin the rotation not long after Opening Day.
Clarke Schmidt, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is still in the early stages of his throwing program. Boone described his return timeline as uncertain, saying a second-half comeback is possible but not guaranteed.
Judge avoids surgery, a rare bright spot
One piece of positive news came from Aaron Judge. Boone confirmed that the Yankees captain won’t need offseason surgery after battling a right elbow flexor strain since July.
“He actually had an MRI after the season, showed continued improvement in the flexor muscles,” Boone said. “No surgery is going to be needed for Aaron.”
Judge is expected to remain in right field next year. Boone said the slugger will focus on rest and targeted strengthening exercises during the winter.
“He’ll take some time off and continue to do strengthening things and rehab and stuff,” Boone said. “But felt like he finished the season in a pretty good place as we saw continued improvements with him.”
Yankees face thin rotation and tough choices
With Rodon out for at least the season’s opening month, Boone acknowledged that his rotation lacks depth. Max Fried now leads the group, followed by young arms Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Luis Gil. While promising, the trio lacks proven consistency at the big-league level.
The Yankees have yet to reveal whether they will pursue external options through free agency or trades. Both Boone and Cashman deflected questions about offseason plans.
“You can never have enough pitching, so I don’t know,” Cashman said when pressed on possible additions. “But clearly the good thing is: He’s coming back, so we have to make sure there’s room on that roster when he does.”
Other injury concerns add pressure
Beyond the pitching staff, the Yankees’ injury list continues to grow. Shortstop Anthony Volpe recently underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He faces four months of recovery before resuming baseball activity.
Giancarlo Stanton also battled elbow tendinitis for most of the 2025 season. While he avoided surgery, his limited range and swing inconsistency remain ongoing concerns for the Yankees’ lineup.
The accumulation of injuries leaves Boone juggling uncertain timelines and roster gaps. The Yankees’ once-deep roster looks increasingly fragile heading into 2026.
Uncertain timeline clouds Yankees plans
Rodon’s recovery schedule creates additional uncertainty for spring training. His eight-week shutdown ends in mid-December, after which he will slowly resume throwing. Even under ideal conditions, he would need several months to regain full pitching stamina.
“When you build in the ramp-up and throwing program into getting him ready to be a starting pitcher, probably delays him potentially a couple weeks to start the season,” Boone said.
The Yankees’ $324 million pitching duo of Cole and Rodon is now sidelined, leaving Boone to rely on stopgaps until they return. The manager’s steady tone Thursday couldn’t hide the urgency of the situation.
Rodon’s setback has forced the Yankees to re-evaluate their offseason strategy. Cashman and Boone now face the challenge of reinforcing a rotation in flux while managing the health of multiple stars.
The team entered the offseason expecting to build around its ace left-hander and captain slugger. Instead, injuries have thrown those plans into disarray. Boone’s leadership will again be tested as the Yankees navigate a turbulent path toward the 2026 season.
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