March, 2025: Gerrit Cole’s eyebrows furrowed deep in thought, as an unnamed fear grappled his body. Exactly a year ago, he had come face to face with a disheartening reality during spring training. Promptly, the pitcher booked a flight to California to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who advised him 3-4 weeks of rest, after what was reported to be inflammation and edema in his right elbow. The result? Cole being put on a 60-day injured list, and his regular-season debut being postponed to June. A year later, the player—in a cruel twist of fate—made a similar discovery… during spring training. Again.

Reports stated the veteran was “concerned” about the state of his elbow, the potential for surgery and how that would affect his season. However, on March 11, reports stated that the 34-year-old would have to undergo Tommy John surgery. The result this time? The entirety of the 2025 missed, and the Yankees front office scrambling to find a suitable replacement. Now, manager Aaron Boone will have five capable options to go with: Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and rookie right-hander Will Warren.

Fried, the prized eight-year, $218 million offseason acquisition, seemed like the obvious candidate. After all, the 31-year-old is one of the best starting pitchers when healthy. Notably, in his eight-year career, Fried has clinched an ERA+ of 140, which as per CBS Sports “means his park-adjusted ERA is 40% better than the league-average mark”. The pitcher’s best season came in 2024 when he posted a 3.25 ERA over 29 starts for the Atlanta Braves. However, looks like Boone has something else in his mind altogether.

The manager, always the strategist, wasn’t ready to hand Fried the Opening Day start just yet. “It might not line up for Max to be the Opening Day starter just because of when Gerrit went down and how everyone is slotted,” Boone explained, throwing cold water on what many fans assumed would be a smooth transition.

“We’ll continue to work through this,” Boone added. In a season where every game mattered, the Yankees now found themselves at crossroads. Facing a problem they had not anticipated—a need for a leader at the mound! With Fried now likely out of the Op

ening Day picture, the Yankees’ options are limited to two veterans: Marcus Stroman and Carlos Carrasco. However, neither of the two is the surefire ace the Yankees hoped for when they signed Fried. But both do bring enough experience and swagger to keep the rotation competitive. So now the question is: who will take the ball when the Yankees begin their quest for the postseason?

With the uncertainty comes the inevitable reactions from the Yankees’ faithful. As the rotation puzzle continues to unfold, Yankees fans are left wondering: could Marcus Stroman really be the one to take the mound on Opening Day?

Marcus Stroman on Opening Day? Fans weigh on the unexpected curveball

As the New York Yankees‘ rotation hits a major bump with Gerrit Cole’s injury, fans are left reeling and questioning the team’s next move. With Marcus Stroman now in the mix for Opening Day, reactions are pouring in—and they’re as unpredictable as the situation itself. In an amusing twist, faithful volunteers themself for the role of Opening Day starter, playing off the chaos of the Yankees’ rotation. It’s a witty way to poke fun at the dilemma the team faces—when even fans are offering to step up, you know things are a bit out of whack.

Then there was one user who wrote:

If at all Stroman gets the nod and starts on Opening Day, the Yankees could become the punchline of New York baseball. In a city where the spotlight is unforgiving and teams are under scrutiny, the idea of Stroman taking the mound on Opening Day doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. It feels like the Yankees might be setting themselves up for ridicule rather than triumph.

The possibility of Stroman on opening day has instilled a sense of frustration brewing in the fanbase. After flirting with the idea of trading Stroman, the thought of him starting on Opening Day questioned how the team went from potentially trading Stroman to now relying on him for such a crucial role. It’s a sharp critique, as many see this as an unfortunate turn of events, feeling that the Yankees’ plans have gone awry.

No sugar-coating zone! Shots are being fired at Aaron Boone, questioning his judgment after just one decision. The frustration is palpable—Boone’s already under fire for what’s perceived as poor handling of the rotation. A sharp and direct critique from a fanbase that expects nothing less than brilliance!