Yankees Can't Let Gerrit Cole Get Away Again This Winter After 2017 Debacle
By Jerry Trotta
Let's take it back to the 2017 offseason, when world-beating ace Gerrit Cole was still a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who, at the time, were desperate to offload the right-hander for future assets.
A deal with the New York Yankees seemed imminent, as rumors fueled the months leading to the deadline. After all, Brian Cashman had just what Pitt was looking for: a profusion of highly-touted prospects.
Instead, however, due to Cashman's reluctance to part ways with said prospects (rumored to include Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar), Cole was ultimately dealt to the Yanks' most imposing threat in the American League -- the Houston Astros, for a much lesser prospect package.
Source says Yankees-Pirates talks re: Gerrit Cole trade are "getting hot," though it's unclear whether a deal is imminent.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 22, 2017
The 'Stros and Yanks appear destined to meet up in this year's ALCS, and most pundits would give the advantage to Houston for one sole reason: their remarkable starting pitching, aided by Cole's emergence as a sheer superstar on the bump.
Gerrit Cole, 91mph Bohemian Rhapsody Slider. ☠️
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 25, 2019
"Mama, just killed a man..." pic.twitter.com/prxcRbRsGE
That's a story for another day, though. Though '19 will be a tough row to hoe, there could be a swift out clause for the NYY. Cole is a free agent after the 2019 season, and the Pinstripes cannot afford a repeat of 2017's disaster. Signing the three-time All-Star would propel the club to a level they haven't seen in quite some time.
For the year, Cole is 18-5 with a 2.61 ERA, 0.908 WHIP, and a whopping MLB-leading 302 strikeouts across 200.1 innings.
Sources: The New York Yankees are working on a deal to acquire starting pitcher Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sides are talking, and while a final package has not come together, there is confidence. "A matter of when rather than if," one source said.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2017
Just imagine a rotation of Cole, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and James Paxton.
New York would no longer need to deploy their bullpen-starter system in the postseason, and the burden therefore wouldn't all lie on the shoulders of its star-studded lineup to outscore opposing teams.
Acquiring Cole would significantly impact the overall balance of baseball in general, as the Bombers would morph into immediate and overwhelming World Series favorites. He will demand a record-breaking contract for a pitcher, but that shouldn't matter. There's simply no room for excuses this time around.