When Gerrit Cole left Tampa for a Los Angeles visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday, Brian Cashman said he “fully expected” a Tommy John diagnosis. That came to fruition, with Cole scheduling surgery for Tuesday.

Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training Try it free TAMPA — What are the Yankees going to do in the wake of a worst-case scenario in which their ace’s elbow has been opened up for an operation that will knock him out for at least a year?

The New York Yankees were dealt devastating news when it was revealed that Gerrit Cole had suffered a season-ending elbow injury before the regular season even