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Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge had MRIs and J.D. Davis just got blindsided — what is going on?? Also, we have our Yankees and Reds season previews and Ken has more on a Twins pitcher making a comeback. I’m Levi Weaver here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to the Windup!

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Injury scares derail Yankees’ narrative

Until yesterday, the theme for the Yankees’ season preview would have been, “They got Juan Soto and revamped the bullpen.” But now a cloud is hanging over the whole thing while we wait to hear news on Gerrit Cole, who underwent an MRI to examine his elbow and Aaron Judge, who had an MRI of his own on his abs.

Judge’s results haven’t been officially announced, but it doesn’t seem like a worst-case scenario since he’s expected to start swinging the bat again “soon.” His Opening Day availability, however, is in question. Cole’s results may not be back before tomorrow, but for better or worse, they’ll have a massive impact on the Yankees’ outlook for the 2024 season. If he’s fine, they have the reigning Cy Young Award winner heading up a rotation that includes Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodón, Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt. If the news is bad, it’s those four plus … Luke Weaver? Will Warren? Someone else?

Of note: Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell are still free agents.

It would be a devastating blow to lose an irreplaceable star in The Bronx, something that hasn’t happened since all the way back in … last year, when Aaron Judge missed nearly two months after a collision with an outfield wall. Judge’s return, plus the addition of Juan Soto, a solid second year from Anthony Volpe and a (hopefully?) healthy trio of Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu (not to mention a second-half Jasson Domínguez, as he returns from Tommy John surgery) would almost certainly help Aaron Boone’s case in his final year under contract as manager.

But for the time being, we’re all holding our breath while we wait for news about the team’s two biggest stars.

Key departures: RHP Domingo Germán, C Kyle Higashioka, INF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, RHP Michael King, RHP Keynan Middleton, RHP Frankie Montas, RHP Luis Severino, LHP Wandy Peralta

Key arrivals: LHP Caleb Ferguson, LHP Victor González, OF Trent Grisham, RHP Cody Poteet, OF Juan Soto, RHP Marcus Stroman, OF Alex Verdugo

Prospect corner: Even while recovering from elbow surgery, Domínguez heads up Keith Law’s Top 20 list, which details a farm system loaded at the lower levels, even if the upper levels are perhaps a bit sparse.