Gerrit Cole is reportedly going to miss at least 1-2 months as he seeks further clarity on his elbow injury, meaning the Yankee ace likely won’t see a big-league mound until June.
The outlook could become even worse if further testing shows that surgery is needed.
With that in mind, Evan is calling on the Yankees to open up their checkbook and sign one of the two top-tier pitching free agents still available.
“The answer is, Hal Steinbrenner has to take out his pocketbook,” Evan said. “Replacing Gerrit Cole is impossible…but the easiest thing to do is open up your pocketbook and sign Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell. It’s the easy answer, and it’s the right answer.
“This organization needs to be to their word, ‘we’re hell-bent on winning,’ and go do something about it.”
The Yankees have hit $300 million in payroll, meaning they will pay plenty in luxury taxes with every other dollar they spend on the roster this season. But Evan says that shouldn’t stop a team like the Yankees, the most valuable franchise in the sport, from adding another big arm after losing arguably the best pitcher in baseball.
“You guys who go to games and spend top dollar, you don’t need to be told, ‘Sorry, we’re not spending more, we’re not spending 110 percent on every dollar we spend.’ No, because your prices aren’t changing this season,” Evan said. “Stick to your word that you’re hell-bent on winning a championship…do something about it. You have two pitchers sitting right there for you. That doesn’t happen.”