New York Yankees' Faith in Will Warren Paying Off Amid Injury Crisis

MLB Rumors: New York Yankees' Faith in Will Warren Paying Off Amid Injury Crisis

The New York Yankees are navigating a devastating wave of injuries this spring training, with their pitching rotation particularly hard hit. As ace Gerrit Cole faces a season on the sidelines recovering from Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil sidelined for months with a lat strain, attention has turned to promising right-hander Will Warren as a potential savior for the depleted staff.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Yankees' front office has maintained strong confidence in Warren despite trade interest from multiple teams following his challenging MLB debut last season.
"Multiple teams tried to trade for right-hander Will Warren this offseason after a middling six-outing big league cameo last year ended in a 10.32 ERA," Passan reported. "New York believed Warren was better than that, and he is rewarding the support with an impressive spring and likely rotation spot."
The timing of Warren's spring training renaissance couldn't be more fortuitous for the injury-plagued Yankees. Through four appearances, the young hurler has compiled a stellar 1.45 ERA across 11.2 innings while notching three wins. This dramatic improvement over his rough introduction to the majors—which included disastrous outings against the Angels (eight runs in 4.1 innings) and Pirates (three runs in one inning)—suggests Warren may be ready to contribute meaningfully at the highest level.

Depth Tested as Injuries Mount

Warren isn't the only highly-regarded pitching prospect in the Yankees' system, though he's currently the only one available. Chase Hampton, another top arm, is also recovering from Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2025 campaign entirely.
While veteran Carlos "Cookie" Carrasco has performed well this spring and may initially claim a rotation spot ahead of Warren, the rookie will almost certainly factor into the Yankees' plans as the season progresses. The organization's depth has been severely tested, with Giancarlo Stanton potentially facing season-ending surgery and other key pieces sidelined.
The timing of these injuries has left the Yankees with few external options to bolster their rotation. Despite public speculation about trading Marcus Stroman during the offseason, general manager Brian Cashman may now be grateful he retained both Stroman and Warren, as both pitchers will be essential to the team's success in 2025.
With the trade market offering limited solutions this close to Opening Day, the Yankees appear prepared to rely on internal options like Warren until the midseason trade deadline potentially presents more opportunities to acquire pitching help. Until then, Warren's continued development could prove crucial to the Bronx Bombers' hopes of contention in the highly competitive AL East.