The New York Yankees failed to overcome a strong Houston Astros team for one glaring reason — their starting pitching wasn’t good enough. The hitting woes undoubtedly played a part, but too many runs allowed in the first inning of games was the difference, considering Houston’s two walk-off wins.
Pitching is the most crucial part of playoff success, and the Yankees were able to use the ALCS to audition Gerrit Cole for the upcoming free agency period.
Cole, who had a perfect 0.00 ERA against the Yankees, allowed four hits in his one start. In the ALDS, he finished with a 0.57 ERA and allowed one run over two hits in two starts. The regular season was even more impressive, though, as he enjoyed a career-low ERA of 2.50. His 326 strikeouts and 20-5 record only scratch the surface on how dominant he was.
The Astros top pitcher was excellent in every facet of the game from a pitching standpoint throughout the regular season and had no problem carrying his success over into the postseason. The Yankees will pursue the ace in free agency, and Cole being a Yankee fan growing up could prove to be advantageous in their pursuit.
Will the New York Yankees be willing to splash the cash(man)?
The general concern is general manager Brian Cashman and his willingness to splash the cash on a player like Cole, who could realistically earn upwards of $25 million per season. Paying for that type of talent is necessary, especially after seeing the alternative reality occur on your team as the Yankees just did.
However, there’s another pitcher that could be of interest for the Bombers as well. Madison Bumgarner, who finished the 2019 campaign with a 3.90 ERA, the highest in his 11-year career, is still more than capable of producing quality outings.
Bumgarner’s velocity has seen a decrease in recent seasons, but his savvy veteran mentality has enabled him to find a way around it. Utilizing his curveball more frequential, Madison remains an effective pitcher than can record strikeouts. He finished the year with 203 strikeouts, on par with his top seasons between 2013-16.
While he is 30-years old and running out of gas, the Yankees might be able to secure him on a more friendly deal that would allow them to invest in other players as well. Paying him as a top-level starter won’t be necessary, but he won’t come cheap, either. He might be available in the $14-16 million range.