Manager Aaron Boone said Monday that the Yankees are discussing the possibility of activating Cole (elbow) from the 15-day injured list and having him make his season debut this weekend against the Rays, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
The Yankees had previously planned for Cole to make one more rehab start this week, but that was before the right-hander struck out six over 5.1 innings of one-run ball in his latest rehab outing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. Elmer Rodriguez -- who had been filling the final slot in the Yankees rotation -- was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier Monday, seemingly clearing the path for Cole's season debut, which would likely fall on Friday. Cole got his pitch count up to 86 on Sunday, so he's sufficiently stretched out. He's coming back from Tommy John surgery with an internal brace that he underwent in March 2025.