BREAKING: Emergency Yankees-Cardinals trade to replace injured Gerrit Cole with an old friend

With Gerrit Cole’s injured elbow casting uncertainty over the Yankees’ rotation, the team could consider reuniting with Sonny Gray. The Yankees may be facing a tough start to the 2025 season after once boasting a deep group of starting pitchers. However, Luis Gil’s lat strain will keep him out until summer, and now Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole is dealing with a sore throwing elbow—an injury that early reports suggest could be serious.

Cole is awaiting a second opinion, but if surgery is required, he could miss a significant portion of the season. Given this possibility, the Yankees may need to pursue pitching reinforcements, and one of the top trade options available is Sonny Gray, currently with the St. Louis Cardinals.

This emergency Yankees-Cardinals trade could replace Gerrit Cole with a reliable righty

Gray’s tenure with the Yankees lasted a year and a half, during which he struggled with a 4.51 ERA. However, since leaving the Bronx, he has transformed into a much more effective pitcher, posting a 3.35 ERA and accumulating 19.7 WAR over 152 starts.

A potential trade scenario would see the Yankees reacquire Gray from the Cardinals in exchange for pitching prospects Brock Selvidge and Cade Smith, with St. Louis also covering a portion of Gray’s contract.

Selvidge, 22, has been impressive throughout his professional career, maintaining a 3.62 ERA across nearly 300 innings in the Minor Leagues. With a four-pitch mix and solid command, he projects as a future big-league starter.

Smith, also 22, features two outstanding breaking balls that have helped him dominate Minor League hitters. In his first pro season, he recorded nearly 120 strikeouts in under 100 innings. If he can refine his command, he has the potential to develop into a mid-rotation starter.

This trade would benefit both teams. The Cardinals would offload part of Gray’s salary while opening up a rotation spot for a young arm like Tink Hence. Meanwhile, the Yankees would acquire a dependable veteran without having to sacrifice top prospects like Will Warren or Spencer Jones.