Why the New York Yankees will go Gerrit Cole or go home

Could the Yankees pursue Gerrit Cole this offseason?
Oct 22, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) walks to the bullpen to warm up before game one of the 2019 World Series against the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees always manage to surprise the masses when it comes to signing high-priced free agents. Whether it be trading for a Giancarlo Stanton type player or signing a Jacoby Ellsbury, unexpected bust type, GM Brian Cashman always keeps us guessing on his moves.

This offseason, the hype centers around top pitcher Gerrit Cole, who was recently knocked out of the World Series by the Washington Nationals. Cheating allegations against the Houston Astros immediately followed the team’s knockout.

Cole is looking to separate himself from the doomed organization, and he will dive into a free agent market that’s begging him to set a record-breaking contract. However, the Yankees are loaded in the pitching department even without Cole.

The New York Yankees starting rotation currently looks like this:

-Luis Severino

-James Paxton

-Domingo German (suspension)

-Masahiro Tanaka

-Jordan Montgomery

-J.A. Happ

-Deivi Garcia/Michael King

Even without the services of Cole, who’s expected to break $30 million per season, the Yankees still have a solid group of starters that can get them through the regular season in one piece. The issue is the postseason, where Paxton elevated his game, and Severino pitched several hearty innings. German was forced out due to domestic violence allegations, and Tanaka performed as his usual quality self. It’s not worth factoring Happ into the equation who barely saw the mound until a bullpen game against the Astros late in the ALCS.

Adding a pitcher that can nearly guarantee a win is what the Yankees are looking for, and it would increase the probability of winning the 2020 World Series 10-fold. Having a four-man rotation of Cole, Severino, Paxton, and Tanaka would allow the Bombers to keep their top options ready to go in the later games of the postseason. Minimizing fatigue is the trick here, and if Cashman is willing to push past the luxury tax, overspending on Cole should be an easy decision.