This is not about 2014 anymore. The Yankees will not and cannot say that, but it is the truth. Masahiro Tanaka was the only player keeping this season from sinking, and now he has a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament.

“There are success stories,” General Manager Brian Cashman insisted in his conference call with reporters on Thursday, but success, in this case, would still probably mean failure for the Yankees. Even if the platelet-rich plasma injections work on Tanaka’s right elbow, and he returns this season, that means at least six weeks without their ace in the heat of a pennant race.

Yes, the American League East is relatively weak, and the Yankees could always make more trades. But they have now lost four starting pitchers, and their lineup is too old and brittle to muscle past opponents. The Baltimore Orioles, who have impact players in their prime, were the best team in the division at the start of the season, and they still are.

The really important question is whether Tanaka can pitch in 2016. If the Yankees try this plan and still miss the playoffs, and Tanaka breaks down again next season ... well, it is easy to figure out. Recovery from Tommy John surgery takes at least a year.