NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are considering a change of plans that could get Gerrit Cole back in the big leagues sooner than expected.

Aaron Boone said Monday that the Yankees are now discussing whether the 2023 Cy Young winner will make his season debut later this week, potentially on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Cole, working his way back from Tommy John surgery, was previously expected to make one more rehab start this week, but it became clear that the Yankees were at least rethinking things when they optioned starting pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez to make space for an extra reliever, Yovanny Cruz, on Monday.

Rodríguez, who pitched against the Mets on Sunday, was initially expected to make one more major league start before being replaced by Cole.

“I’d say it’s on the table, yeah,” Boone said of Cole returning this week, though the manager stressed that nothing has been finalized.

With the Yankees wanting to get input from Cole and their training staff, among others, Boone added that the organization will talk through its options on Monday and Tuesday before making a decision.

The possibility of an early Cole return follows the loss of another ace, as the Yankees placed Max Fried on the injured list with a bone bruise over the weekend. It’s unclear when the lefty will begin throwing, let alone rejoin the team’s rotation.

“Whatever we do, it’s with the long game in mind,” Boone said of Cole. “A need doesn’t necessarily mean we’re bringing him back. If we feel like he’s absolutely ready to go and checked all the boxes, then we’ll make that call.”

Cole, who missed the entire 2025 season, has already made six rehab starts, which have been scattered across High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. He has totaled a 4.66 ERA, three walks, 28 strikeouts and six homers over 29 innings, but he spent a handful of those starts working on specific things and pumping strikes in an effort to build his pitch count.

Cole’s most recent rehab start was on Saturday at Triple-A. Boone called it “mostly excellent,” as the righty allowed one earned run, six hits and one walk over 5 1/3 innings. He also struck out six, threw 84 pitches and topped 99 mph with his fastball.

“He looks really good,” Boone said. “This outing was probably a little more with competition in mind, like going to get guys out and stepping on it stuff-wise.

“I think I’ve watched every pitch he’s made in the rehab. It’s gone really well.”

Cruz gets the call

The Yankees drew minimal attention when they made Cruz their first signing of the offseason on Nov. 8, as the 26-year-old had yet to pitch above Double-A and only inked a minor league contract.

But the righty impressed toward the end of spring training after missing some time due to a shoulder issue and paternity leave, flashing a triple-digit fastball in a couple exhibition games. Cruz parlayed that into an electric start to his minor league season, posting a 0.69 ERA with four walks and 17 strikeouts over his first 13 innings at Triple-A.

However, Cruz hasn’t been as dominant lately. Prior to his first big league promotion, he allowed a run in five straight appearances while tallying eight hits, five walks and six strikeouts over five frames. Boone has also noted that the reliever needs to work on controlling the running game.

But with the Yankees’ beleaguered bullpen in need of a rested arm, Cruz got the call anyway.

“It’s a big arm, 100 mph, good slider,” Boone said. “Has had some success down there, has had some struggles down there. Just felt like we needed the extra coverage today, and felt like he was the guy in line.”

Caballero plays catch

José Caballero (broken middle finger) played catch Monday, Boone said. The shortstop had already been fielding, but not throwing, the last few days.

Boone said that Caballero still has a chance to spend the minimum 10 days on the IL, but the Yankees will see how the next few days go.

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