Yankees Reportedly Have Interest in Gerrit Cole's Personal Catcher Martin Maldonado

Nobody pitched better than Gerrit Cole in 2019, and Gerrit Cole pitched best with Martin Maldonado behind the plate. The Yankees are in need of a personal catcher.

And, in an expected conclusion to this conundrum, the Yanks may already be in hot pursuit of Maldonado to fill their Austin Romine-sized vacancy.

Per reports, New York does have interest in entering the Maldonado sweepstakes.

The Yankees have interest in C Martin Maldonado, per source. Interesting stats to consider: Maldonado caught Gerrit Cole 10 times in 2019 - and Cole had a 1.57 ERA and .471 opponent OPS in those starts, his lowest numbers with any of Houston's catchers last season.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 11, 2019

It's a bit strange watching the NYY become Houston East all of a sudden, but when the situation dictates, it's wise to load up on people who make the $324 million man in Cole feel comfortable.

After all, Andy Pettitte can't be in the stands every day.

And the connection with Maldonado is very real. A 1.57 ERA in 10 starts doesn't happen by accident, a mark that's somehow a full run lower than Cole's full-time exceptional mark. The Yanks are already giving up plenty to make their ace happy, and this addition would fulfill a need.

With the #Yankees signing Gerrit Cole, the #Astros will receive a comp pick after Competitive Balance Round B in the 2020 #MLBDraft (currently No. 74), and the #Yankees will forfeit their 2nd- and 5th-round picks and $1M from their int'l bonus pool in the 2020-21 signing period. pic.twitter.com/ezVibylIYd
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) December 11, 2019

What's not to like? Other than the star on his former cap, of course.