With Houston Astros ace Gerrit Cole preparing to enter free agency as the best pitcher in baseball, the New York Yankees will have to make a decision. Is signing a top-level starting pitcher worth the monetary investment?
Considering they were without Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery for a majority of the 2019 season, it’s fair to argue they don’t need to inject more talent into the rotation. Losing CC Sabathia, however, will require replacement, but supplementing his loss with Cole might be excessive and expensive.
However, the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman could enter the Stephen Strasburg sweepstakes after he opted out of his contract with $100 million on the table. He will look to increase his earnings this offseason, and earning upwards of $25 million is possible given the price-tag currently sitting on Cole’s head.
The biggest concern regarding Strasburg is his health. Staying on the field has been difficult for the dominant pitcher, but his stellar 2019 campaign where he earned a 3.32 ERA over 209 innings pitched, the most in his career, proves he can handle a full workload. At 31 years old, there is still a ton of tread left on his tires, so if the Bombers are keen on bringing in a bonafide ace, Strasburg fits the fit.
The issue boils down to money, and Cashman has been hesitant to invest in big-money pitchers in recent years. If the difference between signing Cole and Strasburg is $7-10 million, I imagine they would go for Cole, considering his excellent health and dominance in every facet of the game.
The New York Yankees would gain a postseason god in Strasburg:
Playoff Strasburg is even better than regular season Strasburg, which could be a huge advantage in pursuing the Nationals ace. This past postseason, Stephen threw 28 innings, striking out 40 batters, and walked just two, one of which was intentional. His 1.96 ERAÂ and 1.93 FIP shined bright over is opponents, and he rightfully earned the applause. His FIP ranks as one of the best in history with pitchers starting at least three games and pitching 25 innings, per Fangraphs.
While it’s a long shot, the Yankees sign either Strasburg or Cole, it’s important to highlight their strengths and understand why either would fit in the Bronx.