Yankees Announce Roster Moves Ahead of Gerrit Cole Return

The New York Yankees may have lost the finale of their four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0, but they are getting a major boost as Gerrit Cole is now scheduled to make his season debut against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

Cole has not pitched in nearly two years, last appearing in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but manager Aaron Boone announced this past week that Cole would make his return on Friday at home against the Rays.

Cole's scheduled return has prompted the Yankees to make a couple of roster moves ahead of the Rays series, with New York optioning Yovanny Cruz and Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Cruz and Jones are making room for Cole and José Caballero, who is returning from a finger injury.

Following tonight's game, the Yankees optioned RHP Yovanny Cruz and OF Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 22, 2026

Cruz made his MLB debut during the Blue Jays series and pitched on Wednesday and Thursday. He threw 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs.

Jones, meanwhile, was the 25th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and made his major league debut earlier this month. The 25-year-old has appeared in 10 games and is batting .167 with four hits, two RBIs, and one stolen base.

"Wrote the other day that some upcoming probable pitching matchups wouldn't do a struggling Spencer Jones any favors when it came to a corresponding move for José Caballero. He still has things to work on and can use the everyday reps. #Yankees," wrote Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News.

While Cole's return will bolster the pitching staff, Caballero is expected to play shortstop. He had been sidelined with a fractured right middle finger but is on track to return on Friday as the starting shortstop, making Anthony Volpe's role uncertain.

Cole, meanwhile, will also be reinstated from the injured list on Friday as he returns to the rotation. He signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees before the 2020 season, and aside from missing 2025, he has largely lived up to expectations. From 2020 through 2024, he made 125 starts and pitched 759 innings while compiling a 59-28 record, 915 strikeouts, a 3.12 ERA, a 3.32 FIP, a 1.03 WHIP, and 17.1 fWAR.

New York will hope Cole can return to similar form and help the Bronx Bombers climb back into first place. The Yankees currently sit in second place at 30-21 through 51 games, while the Rays lead the AL East with a 33-15 record.

Related: Yankees' Trent Grisham Shares Promising Injury Update

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 8:13 AM.