Gerrit Cole hoping Yankees use 2023 'disaster' as motivation - ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees managed to avoid their first losing season since 1992, but Gerrit Cole admitted that «disaster» was an appropriate word to describe missing the postseason for the first time since 2016.

«Certainly there were injuries that were outside the normal realm of injuries that impacted us,» Cole said Thursday as the Yankees opened camp for pitchers and catchers. «With that said, we get injured too much as a group. We need to improve.»

While Cole went 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA to win his first Cy Young Award, first-year starter Clarke Schmidt was the only other pitcher to make at least 20 starts. Carlos Rodon, signed to a $162 million contract, missed time with a forearm strain and back problems and made just 14 starts, posting a 6.85 ERA. Nestor Cortes, an All-Star in 2022, made 12 starts with a 4.97 ERA. Luis Severino, now with the New York Mets, had a 6.65 ERA across 18 starts.

Rodón and Cortes, who was sidelined by a strained left rotator cuff, are throwing to hitters.

«A lot of things have to go right,» Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. «Start with health. You know, you're going to have your health challenges here and there. But hopefully, for the most part, especially a lot of your core guys can go to the post regularly. I mean, that's an important factor.»

The Yankees finished 18th in the majors with a 4.44 rotation ERA last season, after ranking fourth in 2022.

«Still fresh in our minds, so hopefully we use it as motivation,» Cole said of the team's 82-80 record.

Cole was proud that the team fought to maintain the streak of winning seasons. The Yankees were four games under .500 at the end of August, but went 17-11 over the final month to keep the streak intact.

«Being hamstrung for a great