Gerrit Cole's return has finally validated Brian Cashman's famous Yankees phrase

The New York Yankees just swept the Kansas City Royals and will enjoy an off day before taking on the Athletics. It was a top-to-bottom dominant showing in KC that started with a ninth-inning comeback on Monday and then featured relentless offense and dominant pitching on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Gerrit Cole's outing on Wednesday night was an absolute stunner. No exaggeration, it was of his best starts as a Yankee when you consider the efficiency and overpowering nature of his performance. If he wasn't making just his second start since Tommy John surgery, there's no doubt he could've gone for the complete game.

The right-hander finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed just four hits (and zero walks) across 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He needed just 79 pitches to accomplish all of that. Aaron Boone didn't want to push it, so he called on the bullpen to finish off the final 2 1/3 innings.

Though Cole's return has come against two of the worst offenses in the American League, there's no denying what he's been able to do after not appearing in an official game since Oct. of 2024.

And, for once, it appears as if Brian Cashman's famous "we view [these guys] returning from injury as impact additions" phrase, that frustrates so many fans in the offseason/at the trade deadline, has come true.

Early returns from Gerrit Cole show Yankees were right not to pursue ace in offseason

Remember in the offseason when some Yankees fans were screaming for the team to trade for a star pitcher? Freddy Peralta was most frequently referenced. Some had even dreamed of Tarik Skubal. Edward Cabrera was another. We can go on and on.

In the end, Cashman settled for Ryan Weathers, maintained faith in the group he had, and then (rightfully) waited patiently for Cole and Carlos Rodón — both of whom underwent significant elbow surgeries but were trending toward returns before June.

Cam Schlittler has been the best pitcher in the American League. Weathers has been far better than anybody expected. Will Warren has built off of his 2025 season nicely. Max Fried was largely dominant before going down with an injury. Elmer Rodriguez filled in admirably when asked to.

That gave the Yankee enough runway to welcome back Cole and Rodón without much chaos. Rodón hasn't been great, but that's to be expected. He is what he is. Could get seven scoreless, could give up seven earned runs in three innings. But his presence is necessary, and Cole returning to ace-like form on Day 1 has been out of this world.

The Yankees aren't without their issues, we know that. No roster is perfect, and New York has major bullpen problems as well as a catching situation that must be addressed before the trade deadline.

But if we're looking at the talent top to bottom, the overall potential, and the outlook year over year, the Yankees could be in a position for a World Series run if they can press the right buttons. If they had Cole last year, they probably win the division and could've avoided the Blue Jays in the ALDS altogether. Now they need to prove that.

If they can stay healthy, maintain their chemistry, limit the ugly stretches, and continue to revamp their approach on offense, Cole's return may give Cashman his best chance yet to stick it to the critics.

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