The short-term implications of Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury for the Yankees are obvious. Any absence from the ace is a crushing blow for a team that will already be missing reigning Rookie of the Year Award winner Luis Gil for the next three-plus months.

Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole was awaiting further medical opinions on his ailing right elbow, following an initial MRI taken Friday.

If Cole undergoes Tommy John surgery, the Yankees will be forced to adjust quickly. They have also lost Luis Gil for at least three months with a lat strain. Max Fried would become a No.1 starter with Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and potentially Will Warren filling out the rotation.