Instead the Yankees are said to include a package that will contain outfielder Clint Fraizer to Pittsburgh to obtain Cole. Now, Friazer was a valuable prospect for the Yankees last season. He had four homers and 17 RBI in 39 games for New York last season, providing a nice spark in the middle of the season. Still with Giancarlo Stanton in the fold, the Yankees feel that Fraizer is expendable.The Yankees could include reliever Chance Adams and prospect Miguel Andujar in the deal for Cole, which could also include second baseman Josh Harrison coming to the Bronx as well.
Now, this is a gamble for the Yankees. Andujar is ranked fifth among the Yankees top 10 prospects, and he plays a position of need for the Yankees. It would be a risky move by New York to hurt their future at the position for a starting pitcher in Cole, who has really been a mediocre pitcher in his career.
In fact, if you look at Cole's numbers, they are very comparable to a guy the Yankees already have on the roster in Sonny Gray.
Cole was 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA in 33 starts last season for Pittsburgh. Gray was 10-12 with a 3.55 ERA in 27 starts with the Yankees and A's last year. Overall, Gray is 48-43 with a 3.45 ERA and 670 strikeouts in 700 plus innings. Cole? Well, he's 59-42 with a 3.50 career ERA with 734 strikeouts in 780 innings. Both are very similar. Why would the Yankees add a pitcher who is no better than what they have? It makes little sense to cut away at the farm system for Cole.
The Yankees already have a set rotation with Mashairo Tanaka, Luis Severino, CC Sabathia, Gray and Jordan Montgomery comprising the rotation. Where will Cole fit in? Does he bump Montgomery from the rotation and hurt his development? It makes no sense.
While Cole can help the Yankees on the field, long term the deal is a bad one for the Yankees.
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