Southwest Airlines breaks with another tradition and checked bags will cost you now

• March 11, 2025

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN, Associated Press Business Writer

Southwest Airlines said Tuesday that it will begin charging customers a fee to check bags, abandoning a decades-long practice that executives had described last fall as key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals.

Southwest, which built years of advertising campaigns around its policy of letting passengers check up to bags for free, said people who haven’t either reached the upper tiers of its Rapid Rewards loyalty program, bought a business class ticket or hold the airline’s credit card will have to pay for checked bags.

The airline did not outline the fee schedule but said the new policy would start with May 28 bookings.

“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect,” Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement.

Less than a year ago, the Dallas-based airline announced it was doing away with another tradition, the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years. Southwest expects to begin operating flights with passengers in assigned seats next year.

Southwest has struggled recently and is under pressure from activist investors to boost profits and revenue. The airline reached a truce in October with hedge fund Elliott Investment Management to avoid a proxy fight, but Elliott won several seats on the Southwest board.

The airline announced last month that it was eliminating 1,750 jobs, or 15% of its corporate workforce, in the first major layoffs in the company’s 53-year history.

The job cuts, which were scheduled to be mostly completed by the end of June, are part of a plan to slash costs and transform the company into a “leaner, faster, and more agile organization,” Jordan said at the time.

Southwest’s stock rose more than 6% before the market open Tuesday.

As recently as Southwest’s investor day in late September, airline executives described the bags-fly-free as the most important feature in setting Southwest apart from rivals. All other leading U.S. airlines charge for checked luggage, and Wall Street has long argued that Southwest was leaving money behind.

The airline estimated in September that charging bag fees would bring in about $1.5 billion a year but cost the airline $1.8 billion in lost business from customers who chose to fly Southwest because of its generous baggage allowance.

Southwest said Tuesday that it would continue to offer two free checked bags to Rapid Rewards A-List preferred members and customers traveling on Business Select fares, and one free checked bag to A-List members and other select customers. Passengers with Rapid Rewards credit cards will receive a credit for one checked bag.

People who don’t qualify for those categories will get charged to check bags. The airline said that it also would roll out a new, basic fare on its lowest priced tickets when the change takes effect.

In a regulatory filing, Southwest disclosed that it now anticipates first-quarter revenue per available seat mile will be up 2% to 4%. Its prior forecast was for an increase of 5% to 7%. The airline said it expects capacity to be down about 2%.

The airline announced last year that along with giving passengers assigned seats, it would charge them extra for with more legroom and offer red-eye flights.

​ Orange County Register 

Pasadena 2nd-hardest spot to find a rental in US after wildfires

• March 11, 2025

Pasadena is the nation’s second-hardest spot to find a rental, another example of how January’s firestorm is altering the region’s real estate markets.

My trusty spreadsheet looked at ApartmentList’s monthly rental vacancy report for 149 big U.S. cities, including six in Southern California. The study took a peek into a fundamental apartment seeker challenge: What’s available for rent?

The Los Angeles County wildfires created extra housing demand in the region’s already tight rental market. The disaster destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 structures in Altadena and Pacific Palisades.

So only 3.7% of Pasadena rental units were empty in February, according to this math. That tied San Francisco for the No. 2 fewest vacant units among the cities tracked. The only tougher spot for renters was New York City, with a 3.2% vacancy rate.

Now, Pasadena is rarely an easy spot to find a rental.

Its 4.9% vacancy rate in December 2024 was ninth-lowest nationally. And its 1.2 percentage-point drop in vacancies in the two months surrounding the wildfires was the second-largest dip among U.S. cities.

Ponder a longer-term view. Pasadena vacancies are running 0.8 percentage points below their 4.5% average over the past five years. That’s the 19th largest decline in empty units among the 149 cities.

Odd move

Pasadena’s recent vacancy dip, however, is a bit of a local oddity this winter among Southern California cities tracked.

Chula Vista: 5.1% February vacancy (No. 19 lowest among the 149 U.S. cities) – down 0.6 percentage points in 2 months (No. 7) but 0.5 points above the 4.6% 5-year average (No. 56).

Los Angeles: 5.2% February vacancy (No. 21) – flat over 2 months (No. 74 change) but 0.7 percentage points below the 6% 5-year average (No. 21 biggest drop).

Riverside: 5.4% February vacancy (No. 24) – up 0.1 point in 2 months (No. 95) and 1.2 points above the 4.2% 5-year average (No. 87).

San Diego: 6.1% February vacancy (No. 54) – up 0.2 points in 2 months (No. 115) and 1.6 points above the 4.5% 5-year average (No. 112).

Anaheim: 6.7% February vacancy (No. 74) – up 0.1 points in 2 months (No. 100) and 2.2 points above the 4.6% 5-year average (No. 132).

Bigger picture

Let me remind you California challenges apartment seekers.

The statewide 5% vacancy in February was fourth lowest among the 42 states tracked. That was down 0.1 percentage points from December, but even that small decline ranked eight-biggest nationally.

California’s February vacancies also were 0.1 percentage points above their 4.9% average over five years, the ninth-worst change for renters.

Nationally, rental hunters enjoy the benefits of an apartment construction boom.

That supply surge meant the typical American renter saw a vacancy rate of 6.9% in February. That was 0.1 percentage points higher than December and 1 point above the 5.9% five-year average.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

​ Orange County Register 

Republicans are marching ahead with a government funding bill despite Democratic opposition

• March 11, 2025

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans will face a critical test of their unity when a spending bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown and keep federal agencies funded through September comes up for a vote.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is teeing up the bill for a vote as soon as Tuesday despite the lack of buy-in from Democrats, essentially daring them to oppose it and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers fail to act.

Republicans will need overwhelming support from their members in both chambers — and some help from Senate Democrats — to get the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk. It’s one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president’s second term.

“The CR will pass,” Johnson told reporters Monday, using Washington shorthand to describe the continuing resolution. “No one wants to shut the government down. We are governing, doing the responsible thing as Republicans. It’s going to be up to Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats to do the right thing.”

The strategy has the backing of Trump, who is calling on Republicans to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”

House Republicans said the bill would trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion, which are rather flat changes for both categories when compared with an overall topline of nearly $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending. The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on auto pilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress.

Democrats are mostly worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. They are already alarmed by the administration’s efforts to make major cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, run by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. And they say the spending bill would fuel the effort.

“This is not a clean CR. This bill is a blank check,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “It’s a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump.”

Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the legislation, according to a memo released by Senate Democrats. So the administration will have more leeway to reshape priorities.

“President Trump has endorsed this full-year CR because he understands what is in it for him: more power over federal spending to pick winners and losers and devastate Democratic states and priorities,” the memo warned.

For example, the Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on mass deportation initiatives.

Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.

This time, Republican leaders are pushing for a vote despite Democratic opposition. Trump is showing an ability this term to hold Republicans in line. He met with several of the House chamber’s most conservative members last week.

Now, House Republicans who routinely vote against spending bills said they would support this one. The House Freedom Caucus, which includes many of the House’s most conservative members, issued a statement of support saying “contrary to Congress’ longtime abuse of this legislative tool, this CR is a paradigm shift.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is still a holdout, though. He says he’ll vote no.

“I guess deficits only matter when we’re in the minority,” said Massie, when asked why colleagues weren’t listening to his concerns.

Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a “GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble.”

“HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him,” Trump posted online.

Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the continuing resolution was not the outcome he was seeking but said it was time to end the cycle of short-term extensions Congress has been passing to keep the government open. This will be the third for the current budget year.

“Congress does have other things to do,” said Cole, of Oklahoma. “It’s got a lot on its plate this year.”

Meanwhile, House Democratic leaders have come out strongly against it. Less clear is how strongly they’ll push members in competitive battleground districts to follow their lead.

“House Democrats will not be complicit in the Republican efforts to hurt the American people,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said.

Senate Democrats generally seem to be emphasizing patience at this stage, waiting to see if Republicans can muscle the bill through the House before taking a stand.

“No comment,” said top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York as he rushed through the hallway outside the Senate chamber.

Still, several rank-and-file Democrats criticized the measure. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was stunned that Republicans were “trying to jam through something that is their way or the highway.”

If the bill does move to the Senate later this week, support from at least eight Democratic senators will likely be needed for it to advance to passage.

“It’ll be up to the Democrats whether they want to deliver the votes and keep the government from shutting down,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Democrats also introduced an alternative bill Monday night funding the government through April 11. The bill could serve as a Plan B if the GOP-led effort falters.

The spending bill could also have major ramifications for the District of Columbia’s government. City officials voiced their concerns during a news conference outside the Capitol on Monday, and district residents later in the day flooded the hearing room and surrounding hallway where lawmakers were considering debate rules for the measure.

The bill would limit the district to last year’s funding levels, though it’s already spending at 2025 levels. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the proposal would require the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending in the next six months since it has already passed a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year. That means, officials said, cuts to critical services such as education and public safety.

The mayor also emphasized that the district’s 2025 budget focused on boosting three priorities: public safety, public education and economic growth.

“If the Congress goes through with this action, it will work against a priority that President Trump and I share, and that is to make Washington, D.C., the best, most beautiful city in the world,” Bowser said.

Associated Press writers Leah Askarinam, Gary Fields and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

Man injured in shooting near Corona del Mar Main Beach

• March 11, 2025

NEWPORT BEACH — A man was hospitalized after sustaining non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting in Newport Beach, police announced Monday.

Officers responded near Corona del Mar Main Beach around 10:12 p.m. Sunday to reports regarding shots fired, according to the Newport Beach Police Department.

The victim was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and later discharged.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting was urged to call NBPD Detective Kyle Markwald at 949-644-3762.

​ Orange County Register 

Mater Dei’s Kaeli Wynn made a valiant return in CIF SoCal basketball regional

• March 11, 2025

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA — Mater Dei’s girls basketball team saved a major surprise for its clash against two-time defending state champion Etiwanda in the semifinals of the CIF Southern California Regional.

High-scoring Kaeli Wynn returned Saturday from a dislocated knee that was said to be a season-ending injury.

The junior forward wore a leg sleeve and scored seven points off the bench, including two 3-pointers, in a 67-57 loss in the Open Division semifinals at Etiwanda High.

Wynn also had seven rebounds, two assists and one block in her first game in about six weeks.

“She said the only reason why she played is because she wants to help the team win a state championship,” said Mater Dei coach Jody Wynn, who is Kael’s mother. “She was just going to try to do what she could (to help). It’s not (about) one person. It’s a whole team thing.”

“(If you have) mind over matter and are physically able to get yourself ready to get out on the court and fight for your teammates,” the coach added, “I can’t deny (you). … That’s a winner.”

Wynn said her daughter went through limited practices on Thursday and Friday after the Monarchs defeated Bishop Montgomery 76-40 in the first round on March 5.

Following the first round game, the coach said her daughter was “out indefinitely” due to the injury, which occurred on Jan. 25 against Rancho Christian.

Etiwanda senior guard Aliyahna “Puff” Morris said her team was “a little bit” surprised by Wynn’s return but remained confident it could reach a fourth straight Open regional final and fifth consecutive overall.

“I think we should be able to execute (against) whoever is playing,” said Morris, who scored a game-high 32 points.

Mater Dei chased Etiwanda most of the game.

The Monarchs led once at 23-22 after a basket in the post by UC Ivine-bound Nohe’alani Stores late in the first half.

Mater Dei trailed by as many as 12 points in the third quarter and got as close as six early in the fourth.

Iowa-bound point guard Addison Deal led the Monarchs with 29 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Stores exited after a collision in the middle of the second period but returned to finish with 11 points. No other Mater Dei player reached doubled figures.

Mater Dei finished the season 29-4 with three of the losses to Open Division regional finalists Etiwanda (twice) and Ontario Christian.

“I’m super proud and grateful to have coached a group of young ladies that represent themselves with class on and off the basketball court,” said Wynn, who finished her first season as the coach. “I think we’ve succeeded together. I think we’ve overcome adversity together.”

​ Orange County Register 

Newport Harbor baseball knocks off Aliso Niguel with Gavin Guy’s strong outing

• March 11, 2025

ALISO VIEJO – There are regular guys, and then there is Gavin Guy. The lanky right-handed pitcher came into the baseball season with his coach at Newport Harbor expecting him to be the team’s No. 2 pitcher.

After Monday’s performance against Aliso Niguel, Guy may have caused a rethink.

Behind the performance of Guy and on the strength of just two runs, Newport Harbor defeated Aliso Niguel, 2-1.

The Sailors (4-1) are ranked No. 23 in the Register’s Orange County Top 25 while Aliso (7-3) came into the game ranked No. 12.

“My catcher, Lucas Perez, was going to be my No. 1, but now I’m thinking that Gavin might be the guy,” Sailors coach Josh Lee said after watching Guy pitch six innings and give up one run on six hits, two walks, and six strikeouts.

Guy’s moment of truth came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Already 73 pitches into a pitch count set at 85, an infield hit, a bunt single and a one-out intentional walk loaded the bases. With everything on the line, Guy struck out Jason Orwat on three pitches. Then Hudson Covington hit a sharp grounder that Guy snagged and completed the play at first base for the final out of the inning.

“That was huge, a big moment with the bases loaded,” said Guy, a 6-foot-5 junior who has committed to UC Santa Barbara. “It was a little nerve-wracking. Took a deep breath because I knew I was going to have to do something … Get weak contact up the middle for maybe a double play or get a strikeout, which is what I was trying to do. I was trying to strike out (Covington), too, but he had a good swing up the middle. Good reflexes.”

Guy improved to 2-1 and lowered his earned run average to 0.41 across 17 innings.

Lee – himself an alumnus of Aliso Niguel – said Covington was going to be the last batter faced by Guy no matter what. By rising to the occasion, Guy turned the ball over to Ryan Williams, who faced his own reckoning in the seventh. Like Guy, he also delivered when it mattered against the heart of the order

A walk to leadoff batter Alex Hamada and a single to right field by Cooper Flemming – his third hit – gave the Wolverines the opportunity they needed to win the game. But No. 3 hitter Jarett Sabol hit a fly to center field on the first pitch, cleanup batter Austin Hays struck the ball well to left but it was caught, and Carson Etnire’s grounder to short was thrown to third base for the game-ending force play.

“We had bases loaded and one out, guys on first and second and nobody out – you’ve got to be able to find ways to bring guys across,” Aliso Niguel coach Craig Hanson said. “We’ve been swinging the bat pretty well. … We just made some uncharacteristic mistakes that ended up costing us. Had a feeling with the guy they had on the mound it would be a close game – and it was.”

Aliso’s run came in the fourth. Brandon Schaaf boarded on an infield single, stole second, took third on a grounder, and scored on Flemming’s single to left.

Aliso Niguel doesn’t begin South Coast League play for a couple of weeks, but Newport Harbor begins the Sunset League gauntlet next week with three games against Corona del Mar in what might be the toughest public school league in Southern California.

This was a quality win to build off of, for sure.

Lucas Perez scored both runs for the Sailors, in the second and fourth innings, against losing pitcher Carson Etnire, who gave up one unearned run on four hits, two hit batters, and two strikeouts in five innings.

In the second inning, Perez was hit with one out, took second base on a passed ball, and scored on Wyatt Gahm’s single to right field.

In the fourth inning, Perez singled to left and took third on Gahm’s second opposite field single. He scored when the first baseman was pulled off the bag on what could have been Jackson’s Stremick’s inning-ending double play grounder to third base.

That Perez and Gahm played such a pivotal role in the offense didn’t surprise their coach.

“Gahm did that last game against Dana Hills, had a two-out, two-RBI hit to give us the lead and give us the win,” Lee said. “And Lucas Perez had a walk-off hit on opening day. Gahm’s a three-year varsity player and Perez has been a starter since he was a freshman on the state championship team. Both those guys have been in big moments.”

And with a pitcher who can make two runs stand up against a team as talented as Aliso – a pitcher who can throw strikes at 88-91 mph – there might be plenty of big moments this season.

​ Orange County Register 

Baseball roundup: Cypress beats Foothill in 10 innings; Canyon, Woodbridge also win, March 10

• March 11, 2025

A roundup of Orange County high school baseball games Monday, March 10:

Cypress 6, Foothill 5 (10 innings): Landon Anderson’s sacrifice bunt in the 10th inning brought in the winning run for Cypress in a Crestview League game at Cypress High.

Greg Prophet III led off the 10th for Cypress with a double and Gary Hennessy hit a single before Anderson’s sacrifice bunt.

Cal State Fullerton commit Noah Johnson had three hits and drove in two runs for Cypress (4-3, 3-0). Connor Artasere had three hits with a double and a run batted in.

Foothill (6-2, 2-1) hit two home runs and had its five-game winning streak snapped. USC commit Gavin Lauridsen went 3 for 4 with a home run and three runs batted in. Cal State San Marcos commit Daniel Troncale added a home run and Eric Zweber drove in a run.

Newport Harbor baseball knocks off Aliso Niguel with Gavin Guy’s strong outing

In the Freeway League:

Canyon 8, Yorba Linda 7: Chip Mertz hit a walk-off single for Canyon in a league win over Yorba Linda.

Jonathan Sandoval had a double and two RBIs for Canyon (5-3, 2-0). Blake Helsper had two hits with a double and a RBI and Blake Lau went 3 for 4 with a RBI.

Nathan Schneider had three hits, two doubles and one RBI for Yorba Linda (2-7, 1-2). Trevor Webb went 2 for 4 with one RBI and Owen Smith added two hits with one RBI.

In the North Hills League:

Sonora 5, Sunny Hills 2: Caleb Orr pitched a complete game and struck out six for Sonora.

Anthony Abad went 2 for 4 with a stolen base and drove in four runs. Luke Crowder stole a base and scored a run for Sonora (5-3, 1-0).

Dylan Erickson pitched well for Sunny Hills (1-4, 0-1) and allowed just one earned run in five innings. Mateo Ramirez drove in two runs for the Lancers.

In the Orange Coast League:

Godinez 7, Valencia 4: Tony Magallon scattered 11 hits over five innings for Godinez in a win over Valencia.

Magallon struck our four and also had an RBI double for Godinez (3-6, 1-0). Sammy Diaz and Jerry Guzman each went 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI for the Grizzlies.

Jackson Paine had three hits with one RBI for Valencia (3-5, 0-1) and Luke Dominguez went 2 for 3 with one RBI. Aidan Morris had a double and drove in two runs.

In the Golden West League:

Segerstrom 3, Costa Mesa 1: Adrian Landeros pitched five shutout innings for Segerstrom. He allowed just four hits and struck out five.

Nathan Nuñez went 2 for 3 with two RBIs for Segerstrom (4-4, 1-0) and Jullian Hernandez drove in a run. Issac Acosta added a double and scored two runs.

Wylan Rottschafer allowed just two runs in six innings for Costa Mesa (4-5, 0-1). T.J. Smith had two hits and drove in a run for the Mustangs and Will Clark added a double.

In nonleague games:

Northwood 12, Mission Viejo 3: Northwood had 11 hits and stole six bases in a win over Mission Viejo.

Koji Yoshimizu had three hits, a double, two stolen bases and drove in three runs for Northwood (2-4-1). Joseph Harper had three hits, including a triple, stole a base and drove in two runs. Burt Chubb stole a base and drove in two runs and Paul Grossman added a double.

Max Osika had two hits for Mission Viejo (4-3), including a double. Robert Nestor and Sam Ursulo drove in runs for the Diablos.

Woodbridge 3, Kennedy 2: Henry Uhrik hit a walk-off sacrifice fly for Woodbridge.

Nevan Namgoong went 2 for 4 with a double, a stolen base and a run for Woodbridge (7-2). Caleb Camacho went 1 for 2 and drove in a run.

James Rojas had two hits and drove in a run for Kennedy (5-3). Alonzo Alvarez had two hits and Sean McCann drove in a run.

Edison 2, Katella 0: Drew Gonzalez threw a shutout for Edison with just five hits allowed and four strikeouts.

Shane Timmons had two hits for Edison (5-2) and Luke Costello drove in a run.

Juan Carlos Navarro pitched well for Katella (6-2) and allowed one earned run in five innings of work. Andrew Ureno led the offense with a double.

Rancho Alamitos 6, Saddleback 3: Matthew Arguelles had a good day on the mound and at the plate for Rancho Alamitos.

Arguelles allowed two runs in six innings and had a RBI double as Rancho Alamitos improved to 5-2. Carson LaBossiere earned the save and drove in two runs. Andrew Ballesta drove in a run and drew a walk.

Andy Aguilar allowed just one earned run in six innings for Saddleback (4-4-1). Anthony Lopez went 3 for 3 with a triple and Diego Enriquez drove in a run.

Esperanza 5, Milken 3: Wiley Garcia drove in two runs and earned the save on the mound for Esperanza.

Garcia struck out five in two innings of work and stole a base. Vaughn Amaro had a RBI double for Esperanza (3-4).

Chino Hills 5, Beckman 2: Beckman had nine hits but suffered a rough loss to Chino Hills, which scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead.

Carter Head allowed one run in five innings with six strikeouts. Nick Molina had two hits with a double and two runs batted in for Beckman (4-5) and Mark Terry added two hits.

​ Orange County Register 

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole to have Tommy John surgery

• March 11, 2025

TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday.

The Yankees said the 34-year-old right-hander was examined Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. ElAttrache, the Dodgers’ head team physician, will operate.

“This isn’t the news any athlete wants to hear, but it’s the necessary next step for my career,” Cole said in a statement. “I have a lot left to give, and I’m fully committed to the work ahead. I’ll attack my rehab every day and support the 2025 Yankees each step of the way. … I can’t wait to be back on the mound – stronger than ever.”

Cole, who will miss the 2025 season and at least part of the 2026 campaign, experienced discomfort following his second spring training outing Thursday.

New York also is missing another starting pitcher, American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, who will be sidelined for at least three months because of a strained lat muscle. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is sidelined indefinitely because of tendon pain in both elbows, and infielder DJ LeMahieu is out with a calf strain.

“You’ve got to be able to handle it and deal with it and maneuver,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the YES Network before the team announced Cole’s surgery. “It’s not a death sentence for us by any means, so it’s an opportunity for someone else. … The reality is Gerrit still has a lot of pitching in front of him in his career and pitching with the Yankees and we want that to be as successful as it’s been already.”

A six-time All-Star, Cole started two games this spring, giving up seven runs across six innings. On Thursday, he gave up six runs on five hits, including two home runs, over 2⅔ innings to the Minnesota Twins. Cole reached 97.6 mph in the second inning of that game, when he allowed Matt Wallner’s three-run homer on a fastball in the middle of the strike zone. He also surrendered Brooks Lee’s solo homer in the third on a 94 mph fastball with a 3-and-0 count.

He said he felt an “alarming” amount of pain that night into Friday morning, leading him to notify the team and undergo imaging tests, which revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Cole, a former UCLA and Orange Lutheran High standout, went through the same series of stressful events a year ago: Elbow pain in mid-March, tests and opinions from doctors. But the result was different. Cole was diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema and, instead of surgery, he rested and rehabbed. He made his season debut on June 19 and pitched through the World Series without a setback.

Cole signed a $324 million, nine-year contract before the 2020 season.

After winning the 2023 AL Cy Young Award, the six-time All-Star didn’t make his first start last year until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. He went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, and then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.

He exercised his right to opt out of his contract on the third day after the World Series, giving up $144 million over four years and starting a two-day window for the team to void the opt-out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029. New York decided not to add the year, and Cole then elected to keep his contract.

Cole is 153-80 with a 3.18 ERA in 12 seasons for Pittsburgh (2013-17), Houston (2018-19) and the Yankees (2020-24).

Max Fried now heads a rotation that includes Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and Marcus Stroman.

Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco are among the options for a fifth starter.

​ Orange County Register