The New York Yankees are running it back. After coming up short last October, the Bronx Bombers are betting that the same core is good enough to get over the hump, with Aaron Judge coming off his third MVP in four years leading the charge. But running it back doesn't mean running it back healthy. Gerrit Cole is working his way back from Tommy John and touched 97 mph in batting practice, targeting a May or June return. Carlos Rodón won't be far behind. Clarke Schmidt is on the IL. That leaves Max Fried as the Opening Day starter with Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers rounding out a rotation that's being held together by depth and off-days. Anthony Volpe is rehabbing shoulder surgery, Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones are likely headed to Triple-A despite strong camps, and the Yankees are weighing whether to open with a four-man rotation given five off-days in the first month. We break down the pitching timeline, whether this lineup can carry the load until reinforcements arrive, the Cody Bellinger re-signing, Ryan McMahon's fit at third, and if the Yankees are a championship team playing shorthanded or a flawed roster banking on health that might never come.

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