The New York Yankees already have Max Fried and Cam Schlittler locked in, along with a rotation that’s clearly built to compete. What’s still uncertain is exactly which Carlos Rodon we’ll see once he’s back, and the same goes for Gerrit Cole. But early signs from Rodon’s rehab suggest the outcome could be better than most anticipated.

Rodon had surgery at the end of the 2025 season to remove a bone chip from his throwing elbow. At his worst this offseason, he struggled with basic tasks like buttoning his shirt, let alone firing the mid-90s fastball that’s defined his career over the last five years.

That image is striking when you consider this is a 33-year-old lefty who logged a career-high 195.1 innings last year. He pushed through elbow pain late in the season just to stay in the rotation. That kind of grit builds trust. Now, that perseverance might pay off in the form of a Rodon with more life in his arm than we’ve seen for some time.

What Rodon’s Rehab Is Revealing

Here’s the part Yankees fans should find genuinely encouraging. Rodon’s been gradually ramping up his velocity, but with an unexpected twist: he’s throwing harder when he actually eases off on his effort. It’s counterintuitive, but it signals that his mechanics are settling back into place.

“I backed off and threw harder,” Rodon told the New York Post. “I was like, ‘OK, that makes no sense.’ But it made it easier to command. It’s just the little ins and outs of pitching, trying to find the stroke again, knowing how much effort in this pitch and the line of this pitch. It takes a little time.”

That statement says a lot. He’s not just telling reporters he feels good; he’s genuinely navigating the complexities of his delivery and discovering something authentic. When a pitcher backs off but gains velocity, it often means the tension is gone; the arm flows more naturally. The bone chip is out, range of motion is returning, and the arm is functioning as it should.

The overall strategy is just as promising. Rodon isn’t rushing from rehab velocity to game speed in one jump. He’s progressing deliberately. “I’m just trying to tick up a little before I get there so I can close the gap of a big discrepancy in velocity,” he explained. “So just slowly building to get the velocity up so when I get in a game, it’s a lot more natural than just going from 90 mph to 98 mph. We’ll see what it does.”

This approach reflects the experience of a veteran who understands that pushing too hard, too fast, often ends with a trip back to surgery.

The Implications for the Yankees

Looking at Rodon’s 2025 stats on Fangraphs tells a story worth noting. He posted a solid 3.09 ERA over 195.1 innings, his career high. His average fastball velocity dropped by 1.3 mph from 2024 to 94.1 mph, yet he put up some of the best results of his career. He clearly pitched through discomfort and still performed at a high level. When fully healthy during the midseason stretch, Rodon was among the elite pitchers in the American League. His strikeout rate dipped slightly, and he faded at the end, but those were signs of managing pain rather than decline.

Now imagine that pain gone, and the lost range of motion restored.

You’re likely looking at a Rodon pitching closer to 95 or 96 mph, with the refined command he’s been honing in rehab, and a realistic return to the rotation around May or June. The Yankees anticipated this scenario. They constructed a starting five designed to handle the innings until Rodon and Cole are ready to take the mound. But if Rodon returns with a freer, harder arm than he has in years, this rotation stops being just good; it becomes a serious challenge for the rest of the league.

The bone chip is out. The arm is loosening up. The Yankees’ best version of Carlos Rodon could very well be yet to come.

Luka Doncic and LeBron James have been making headlines lately with the Lakers. After Doncic nailed his first game-winning shot for the team, a fadeaway midrange jumper with just half a second left, LeBron shared his straightforward thoughts.

The game itself was a grind. Austin Reaves made a clutch play at the end of regulation to send things into overtime, but both teams were clearly worn out. Nikola Jokic managed to tie it up at 125 with a tough drive, but then the ball found its way to Doncic. Facing Spencer Jones, who put up a solid defensive effort, Luka created just enough space to sink that decisive shot in the purple and gold for the first time.

On the other end, Tim Hardaway Jr.’s attempt from deep didn’t fall, sealing a 127-125 win for the Lakers. This victory marked their fifth straight, bumping their record to 42-25. Doncic ended the night with a near triple-double: 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists.

LeBron was asked about Luka’s clutch shot after the game. He didn’t seem surprised by his teammate's composure and success, suggesting this is only the beginning of many game-winners to come in a Lakers uniform. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, LeBron called it a big-time shot by a generational player and was clear about wanting Luka to have the final ball. It’s a vote of confidence that carries weight coming from the king himself.

LeBron’s own performance was quieter than usual: 17 points, six boards, five assists, and two steals as he’s still easing back after missing time due to an elbow injury.

Postgame, Doncic admitted he was feeling wiped out after the extended minutes but was pleased with the win. He even joked about being “tired as hell” while acknowledging the importance of rest moving forward.

Looking ahead, the Lakers are about to face a tough stretch with a six-game road trip starting Monday. They'll be tested against the Houston Rockets twice in three nights, a squad featuring stars like Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün, and Amen Thompson. After that, the team heads to Florida for back-to-back games against a blazing Miami Heat and then the Orlando Magic. The real challenge might come against the Detroit Pistons, currently one of the best in the Eastern Conference. The trip will wind down with a game against the injury-plagued Indiana Pacers, which should be a bit more manageable.

Meanwhile, LeBron is on the brink of making more history. At 41, he’s still breaking records and looks set to become the NBA’s all-time leader in games played during this road trip. He trails Robert Parish by just three games and needs to suit up for four of the next six to claim the record. It’s another milestone for a player whose career continues to defy expectations.