“Clarke Schmidt: The Yankees’ Secret Weapon in Rotation Crisis?”
When Yankees spring training commenced Feb. 11, nobody — staff, players, prognosticators, fans — appeared remotely worried about the club’s pitching staff. That confidence, given the impressive outlay of arms in pinstripes, was understandable. Cole, one of the game’s true aces, appeared healthy and fully operational coming off an injury-marred 2024.
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Behind Cole, there were more reasons to believe. Max Fried, he of the third-lowest starting ERA since 2020, was the club’s biggest free-agent splash. Then there was Schmidt, fresh off a 16-start, 2.85 ERA campaign. Next to him, reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. Even Carlos Rodón, the well-paid southpaw whose first two years in the Bronx fell short of expectations, entered camp with an optimistic outlook and a rejuvenated edge. And so, the biggest story of spring training Week 1 centered on Marcus Stroman’s seemingly superfluous role as starter No. 6 in New York’s game of rotation musical chairs.
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