The New York Yankees are not finished just yet. It was reported today that their interest is now focused towards Gerrit Cole.
Once a New York Yankee, always a New York Yankee. It seems as though the Yankees have an interest in bringing starting pitcher Gerrit Cole home to the Bronx.
The 27-year-old was first drafted by the Yankees right out of high school in 2008 before agreeing to fulfill his promise to attend UCLA for baseball. He was then selected in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Yankees are interested in gerrit cole, who they once drafted. But initial impression is pirates arent trading him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2017
Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports was first with the news but since that broke this afternoon, more details have emerged about the Pirates opening up more to potential trade for the righty.
The Pirates are willing to listen to offers for Gerrit Cole; the Yankees and Pirates match up well for potential deals at this juncture, as sources confirm; Brian Cashman and Neal Huntington have an extensive trade history. Time will tell.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 11, 2017
I know the Yankees are seeking a young, controllable starting pitcher but what’s the fascination with Cole specifically? Clearly they saw something great in him years ago but they are apparently seeing something special in him now.
Cole has five years under his belt in the majors, all with the Pittsburgh Pirates. While he was pretty consistent in his first three seasons, the last two have been a completely different story.
In 2016, he went 7-10 with a 3.88 ERA in a season shortened by an injury to his right triceps. Last season was mediocre at best, going 12-12 on the mound and a 4.26 ERA.
While he is young and has respectable velocity, the Yankees should avoid giving up a big haul for him. Sure, he can improve on his numbers over time but it wouldn’t be worth some of the Yankees’ top prospects.
But, hey, in Cashman we trust, right? We already told the story of “How the Cash Stole Christmas” so maybe the Yankees just need a little Cole in their stocking this year.
