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TALENT VS. AVAILABILITY: YANKEES MUST SOLVE EARLY SEASON PITCHING GAP

Despite a star-studded rotation, the 2026 New York Yankees face a pitching crisis. With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon injured, their early-season depth is a major concern.

Talent vs. Availability: Yankees Must Solve Early Season Pitching Gap
Cole, Rodón Injuries Force Yanks to Seek Imai

Even with a stacked roster, the front office might still worry, and that's the situation for the 2026 New York Yankees and their pitchers. Looking at the names, you'd think they'd easily dominate the American League. The team of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, Will Warren, Ryan Yarbrough, Elmer Rodriguez, and Clarke Schmidt is a group most teams would want. However, talent doesn’t ensure that players are always available, which is the Yanks' concern.

The Yankees understand how good their rotation can be when everyone is healthy, but they also know that this is not currently the case. Cole is recovering from Tommy John surgery. With his return expected between May and June, the Yankees can't count on him for Opening Day or the start of the season. Rodon is in a similar boat after elbow surgery, making his early-season availability uncertain. Schmidt is expected to contribute later in the season.

These key players won’t be ready for the first game of 2026, making the beginning of the year a challenge.

In the meantime, the Yankees will depend on Fried, Schlittler, Warren, Gil, Yarbrough, and the less tested Rodriguez. While this group has potential, the margin for error is slim. Spring training can quickly change plans with just one setback.

Rodriguez is someone the team likes but hasn't fully tested. If he's not ready for the majors by April, the Yankees might have only five reliable pitchers, which isn't enough to cover six months while waiting for their stars to recover.

That's why New York brought back Yarbrough; he is a useful addition, but just part of the solution. The Yankees are reportedly interested in Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, showing they need someone to join the rotation without hesitation.

If not Imai, they need someone similar. A minor-league deal won't solve the problem with Cole, Rodon, and Schmidt's staggered returns and the need to cover many innings before summer.

The Yankees have talent but need reliability. To address this, they should act like a team that knows its opportunity is now and its pitching staff needs help. The issue is clear, and it’s up to the Yankees to decide how seriously they want to fix it.

WARRIORS' NEW DYNAMIC: STEVE KERR EXPLAINS HOW PAT SPENCER FITS WITH STEPH CURRY BACK

Warriors coach Steve Kerr confirmed Pat Spencer's excellent play (13.6 PPG, 59% FG) guarantees him minutes, even with Steph Curry returning to the backcourt rotation.

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Warriors Must Keep Playing Pat Spencer, Even with Steph's Return

The Golden State Warriors may have found a gem in guard Pat Spencer while Steph Curry was out. It sounds like they plan to keep him in the mix.

Coach Steve Kerr talked on Tuesday about how Spencer will fit in now that Curry is back.

"I'm not going to cut his minutes completely," Kerr said about Spencer on the Willard & Dibs show on Tuesday, December 9. I plan to play him with Steph some. We'll see how it goes. It will depend on who we're playing, how well we defend, and which three guys we put out there with them. It's something we still need to figure out.”

Kerr added, But with how Pat is playing and how he’s helping us win and bringing a competitive attitude to the team. I have to keep playing him. We’re winning, and he’s a big reason why.

Spencer has played well in the 5 games since Curry got hurt.

Curry hurt his quadriceps against the Houston Rockets on November 26. He’s scheduled to be back on Friday, December 12, at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In those five games without Curry, the Warriors went 3-2. Spencer started in the last two wins.

In those five games, Spencer played about 23 minutes each night. He averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, plus almost one steal per game. He shot nearly 60% from the field and almost 67% from three on around two attempts a game.

The Warriors are now 13-12 for the season and are currently eighth in the Western Conference.

Draymond Green will practice before the Warriors' next game.

Curry is coming back on Friday after the team had five days off because they didn't make the NBA Cup tournament. Draymond Green, Curry's longtime teammate, is still uncertain.

Green has missed the last two games with a foot injury. Kerr hoped Green might return on Friday, but he doesn't have enough info yet.

Kerr said, "He's supposed to practice [Wednesday] and scrimmage [Thursday]." Afterwards, we'll know more about how close he is to coming back. I don't know yet if he'll be able to play on Friday.

After a three-game road trip in the East, the Warriors play one home game before going back on the road for two games out West. Golden State plays the Portland Trail Blazers on December 14 and then the Phoenix Suns on December 18.

"HE LOOKS GOOD OUT THERE":LEBRON JAMES PROUDLY PRAISES BRONNY'S NBA IMPROVEMENT

LeBron admits balancing team leadership with advising Bronny is hard, but says the young Laker star must experience challenges to reach his full potential.

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LeBron Explains The Tricky Balance of Mentoring Bronny as a Teammate.

LeBron James missed training camp and the first 14 games this season—a first for him. All he could do was watch.

He got to see the Lakers start strong at 10-4, and he watched Bronny James grow as a player.

Bronny stood out in the Summer League in Las Vegas. When the season started, he even started a game against the Bucks. One of his best games was against the Hawks, where he shot 4-6 and scored 9 points.

LeBron talked about how much he enjoys watching Bronny improve on his “Mind The Game” podcast.

“It’s been great, as a father and someone who loves the game, to see him build on what he did in the G League, get comfortable, and then do even better in the Summer League. Now, when he gets his chances this year, he just looks good out there. Young players get better with more time on the court.

“You pick up the little things, and you get used to the speed and strength of the game. I was really proud of him in those games when Luka, AR, or Marcus was out. He played well at home and then had a tough back-to-back in Portland and did it again. That’s what the NBA is all about.”

Every player's path is different, but Bronny's is unique. As part of the first father-son duo in the NBA, he's under a huge spotlight, especially as a late second-round pick.

He seems to handle it well, though he admitted the pressure got to him at first. Now that things have calmed down, he can focus on his game.

Even with less media attention, Bronny’s situation is still special. His dad is not just his coworker but also one of the best to ever play the game.

Bronny can’t change that. LeBron has to figure out how to handle it, as he mentioned on the podcast.

“It’s a tricky balance. During practice and games, I’m a leader on the team. But we also have time where I can give him advice based on what I see. He has to go his own way, and I can share what I’ve learned, but he needs to experience things for himself. Going through those challenges will teach him the most.”

Despite some concerns about the LeBron-Bronny dynamic, it hasn’t been a problem.

Bronny is getting better and looks more comfortable in NBA games. The Lakers are one of the top teams in the West, so it’s tough for him to get consistent playing time. Still, he’s ready, and he’ll get his chance when injuries happen.

If Bronny keeps working hard and improving, he’ll reach his full potential, and that’s what matters most.

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