ANNOUNCEMENT: Tommy Kahnle announce his Resignation and Departure From New York Yankees today due…….READ MORE

The Yankees are hoping for the best but planning for the inevitable with Gerrit Cole.

Hope and prayers and the world of the theoretical has given way to the reality that even if the ace’s throwing elbow is OK, he will not be ready for Opening Day.

There was no firm update Tuesday regarding Cole’s right elbow, which required an MRI a day earlier, but there was acknowledgment that even a clean scan would not leave him enough time to build up in time for March 28 in Houston.

The Yankees have begun discussing who will get the ball instead. The most logical candidate would be Marcus Stroman.

Arguments could be made for Nestor Cortes or Carlos Rodon, who both are coming off rough seasons and carry injury concerns and high upsides.

We’ve started to have those conversations,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays, 8-1, at TD Ballpark.

“I should have something on that for you probably in the next couple days.”

For now, the Yankees’ fingers remain crossed. Cole was undergoing more testing Tuesday, Boone said, without disclosing what those tests consisted of.

Just more different looks, making sure all the bases are covered,” Boone said as Cole Watch reached Day 2.

Cole recently had told the team he was not bouncing back from his spring outings as he usually does at this time of year.