Yankees ace Gerrit Cole out until at least May, will undergo more elbow exams

As the New York Yankees and Gerrit Cole seek definitive word on his throwing elbow's health, the expected outcome just gets worse for the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

Cole will travel to Los Angeles for another opinion on MRI and other test results, and will not pitch for the Yankees until at least May, according to a person with direct knowledge of Cole's prognosis. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because the Yankees have not officially announced Cole's prognosis.

Noted orthopedist Neal ElAttrache will examine Cole, 33, in person after Yankees medical personnel analyzed the exam results. The Yankees sent Cole for testing after he complained his arm was not bouncing back from spring-training throwing sessions in its regular manner.

Cole has appeared in just one Grapefruit League game, and pushed his pitch count beyond 50 in a live batting practice session. This pause figured to scuttle any hope that Cole would be ready for Opening Day.

Now, Cole, entering the fifth year of a nine-year, $324 million contract faces both a period of calming the elbow and then, barring any ligament damage, ramping back up. New York's season opens March 28.

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The New York Post first reported that Cole will miss an extended period of time.

The saga deals a key blow to a Yankees club that adopted an all-in stance for this season, trading pitcher Michael King and prospects to San Diego for All-Star slugger Juan Soto, who is eligible for free agency after this season.

While the team still harbors hopes of significantly improving on its 82-80 record, Cole's absence punches an immediate - and perhaps extended - hole in their pitching depth. Recently signed Marcus Stroman slides from the middle to the front of the rotation, and the club will rely even more on bounceback years from leftys Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes and the development of Clarke Schmidt.

That thin rotation can still be addressed externally, with top free agents Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery still on the market and Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease on the trade block. The Yankees have yet to significantly reengage with Snell after their $150 million offer to the reigning NL Cy Young winner was rejected earlier this winter.

Perhaps their stance will change, with their own Cy Young winner on the shelf for at least the first third of the season.