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The Yankees are in the early stages of offseason planning and we have little idea of what their roster will look like on 2026 Opening Day, let alone when pitchers and catchers report in mid-February. But that doesn’t mean we can’t partake in a little speculation about
one player in particuar.
Although Luis Gil is still a three years shy of 30, it feels like he’s been a presence around the Yankees for a long time. It’s been a wild ride. He went from Nobody Prospect acquired in a minor trade with the Twins for Jake Cave in March 2018 to an out-of-nowhere success story in late 2021 to Tommy John surgery recipient in 2022 to early-season ace and Rookie of the Year in 2024.
The 2025 follow-up took another turn. A bad lat injury kept Gil from pitching until the beginning of August and he never quite looked like his 2024 form. Surface-level stats like ERA were similar, but the pitches weren’t crackling they were last year and he wasn’t whiffing batters like he did in his 171-K rookie season. Taken together with his already-checkered injury history, it’s sparked some discussion among Yankees fans about whether Gil should still be counted on in the rotation, or if New York should instead rely on other starters and try to hone Gil’s command in the bullpen, à la Dellin Betances, and perhaps stay more healthy. It’s not a given, but it’s an idea.
So what say you, Pinstripe Alley? Vote in the poll below and let us know.
