The moment the news broke that New York Yankees signed star pitcher Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324 million deal, the starters in the rotation began to celebrate with joy, starting with Luis Severino via Twitter. Adding such a lucrative arm to the mix should give the Bomber’s a significant boost in the efficiency department, and it should make their playoff hopes even more realistic.
Cole, 29, earned a 2.50 ERA with 326 strikeouts in 2019, both career-highs, which makes him not only the best pitcher on the Yankees but arguably in all of baseball. Some might believe that the other starters on the other team would feel threatened by his presence, but most were happy to realize they are in line to contend for a World Series title in 2020.
James Paxton, who will likely slot in as the No. 3 starter, was excited and welcoming to Cole.
“I heard the rumblings,†Paxton told MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM recently. “I was excited about it. I know Gerrit from quite a few years ago, we spent some time together. Obviously, the best pitcher on the planet, and I’m really excited to learn from him and pitch with him as well.
“I’ve watched other guys have some great runs and I think Gerrit was unbeaten for quite a long time last year. I think he lost a game in May and then not until the postseason he lost again.â€
The pressure that accompanies playing in New York hasn’t escaped Paxton’s conscious, as the expectations fro Yankee fans are forever increasing, and adding Cole only contributes to that reality.
“I feel like when you’re playing in New York that there’s a little extra pressure because you know you’re supposed to win,†he said. “You know that everyone expects us to win so there’s just that extra little bit of pressure you put on yourself and sometimes that can be hard to get used to.â€
With a rotation including Cole, Severino, Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, Jordan Montgomery, and potentially J.A. Happ/Michael King, the Yanks are in an advantageous position moving forward. Add new pitching coach Matt Blake to the mix, and the progression of the unit should take a significant step in the right direction.