gerrit cole

The New York Yankees projected Opening Day lineup is scary good

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New York Yankees, Giancarlo Santon

With the addition of star pitcher Gerrit Cole to the New York Yankees’ starting team, Opening Day is looking to be one of the more exciting events of 2020. The offseason is still in flux, meaning general manager Brian Cashman could pursue other free agents or trade options (Josh Hader). Yet, for the most part, the team has the necessary talent to make a run at the World Series next season.

The Opening Day batting order can be predicted unless the Yankees trade Miguel Andujar and bring in another slugger to fill the designated hitter spot, but I believe they are hoping to use the third baseman in that role.

Here’s what the New York Yankees’ Opening Day starting team might look like:

1.) DJ LeMahieu 

The Yankees will once again activate LeMahieu in the leadoff spot, as he hit .327 with 26 homers and 102 RBIs over 145 games. His high OBS (.375) is perfect ahead of the Yankees’ top sluggers.

2.) Aaron Judge

Judge missed a significant portion of 2019 with various injuries, but when healthy, he’s one of the Yankees’ top players and hitters. LeMahieu and Judge combined for 52 homers last season, and we should expect that number to increase moving forward.

3.) Gleyber Torres

Usually, Torres slots in after the cleanup spot, but he will likely make the jump to third, hitting .278 with 37 homers in 2019. He’s a reliable hitter that will force opposing pitchers into tricky situations.

4.) Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton will once again slide into the 4-spot. He missed virtually all of 2019 and needs a bounce-back season. During the 2017-18 seasons, he smashed 97 homers, and if he can return to form, Stanton could take the Yankees’ offense to another level.

5.) Miguel Andujar

Andujar is recovering from a torn Labrum in 2019, but he will be inserted into the designated hitter spot, especially with Gio Urshela handling the hot corner. Miggy smacked 27 homers and logged 92 RBIs in his rookie campaign, making him a clear bounce-back candidate.

6.) Gary Sanchez

Sanchez, who had one of the worst postseason hitting performances in history last year, was dealing with a groin ailment for the latter portion of the season. When healthy, he’s one of the best catchers in baseball, and the Yankees aren’t going to give up on his potential yet. He’s a solid 6-spot hitter who holds plenty of slugging power to turn a game on its head.

7.) Luke Voit

Another slugger, what a surprise. Voit is another fantastic hitter when healthy, and he has only just found his potential since joining the Yankees in 2018. His .263 BA and 21 homers in 2019 only scratches the surface of his quality at the plate.

8.) Gio Urshela

Hitting .314 last season, Urshela was a wonder for the Bombers, who desperately needed to replace Andujar’s offensive production after suffering a torn Labrum. Urshela will slide into the third base position permanently, and hopefully, his offensive efficiency can be maintained.

9.) Brett Gardner

Gardner has career-highs in home runs (28) and RBIs (72) last season, earning himself another extension with the only team he’s ever played for. Gardner’s ability to work the count and rack up pitch totals for pitchers is perfect in the 9-hole. He will set LeMahieu up perfectly to take advantage of weary arms.

Starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole

The Yankees signed Cole to a nine-year, $324 million deal. The former Astro brings a unique skill-set to the Bronx and is coming off one of his best seasons to date. His 6.8 WAR and 2.50 ERA don’t even begin to break down his analytical dominance. The Yankees now have the best pitcher in baseball to help them achieve their World Series dreams.

New York Yankees news, rumors: Is Deivi Garcia trade bait? Miguel Andujar health update

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New York Yankees, Deivi Garcia

Trade proposals will be frequent this offseason, especially with New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acquiring the green light to pursue all players. Owner Hal Steinbrenner is keen on bringing home a World Series title within the next two years, which attests to the massive Gerrit Cole contract. However, the Yanks still have a few holes on the roster that need to be plugged.

Losing both Dellin Betances and Nestor Cortes Jr. has opened up a void in the bullpen, one that could be filled by home-grown talents like Michael King or Deivi Garcia, but it seems as if Brewers’ Josh Hader entices Cashman. He has been extending different valued offers for the star relief arm, but the Brewers are reportedly asking for far too much — Miguel Andujar, Clint Frazier, and a prospect.

More news and rumors from the New York Yankees:

The idea of floating Deivi Garcia as trade bait is something to consider, as his value might be higher now than it will be down the line. Realistically, Garcia, who’s the Yankees’ No. 1 pitching prospect, is a bit undersized, and some believe he’s a long-shot to develop into an ace. If that’s the conclusion Cashman comes to by word of his developmental agents, including him in a deal should be on the table.

Including the three pieces mentioned above for Hader, though, shouldn’t be an option. The Brewers should have their pick of Andujar or Frazier and potentially Garcia. Adding Hader to the mix would bring a 25-year-old pitcher in his prime with four years of team control remaining on his deal to the Bronx. His services would inevitably give the Yankees the advantage they need to make a serious run at the World Series in 2020.

Jon Heyman: Yankees remain interested in Josh Hader and could begin a package with 3B Miguel Andujar (Brewers don’t really have a set 3B). Interested teams still aren’t totally convinced Milwaukee would move the star closer though.

MLB Marathon: As previously reported, the #Yankees and #Brewers are talking Josh Hader trade. Increasingly likely Hader ends up in the Bronx.

Click here for yesterday’s news/rumors!

Do the Yankees have a secret weapon in the starting pitching rotation?

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New York Yankees, Jordan Montgomery

The return of the Last Jedi, I mean Luis Severino, will give the Yankees a considerable boost in efficiency regarding the starting pitching rotation. Severino’s health is imperative to the overall success of the team, and losing him for virtually all of 2019 was significant, despite the Bomber’s securing 103 wins.

Expecting lesser players to crawl out of the woodwork to save the day in 2020 is a perverse logic, as what the Yankees did last season with the likes of Cameron Maybin, Brett Gardner, Mike Tauchman, and Gio Urshela is unheard of. General manager Brian Cashman has put the team in an advantageous position, signing Gerrit Cole and retaining Gardner, who will start in centerfield until Aaron Hicks returns from injury.

Other moves are expected to follow in the coming days, especially with star relief arm Josh Hader hanging in the balance. However, the secret weapon for the Yankees isn’t Severino, Cole, or any other big-name that litters the roster like a bunch of underage kids drinking Bug Lights behind a grocery store.

The player of notice is Jordan Montgomery, who has pitched two seasons of sub-4.00 ERA baseball, earning a solidified spot in the starting rotation. In an ideal world, Cashman would unload J.A. Happ’s $17 million per year contract off the books, making more room for Monty.

Can the Yankees expect Jordan Montgomery to bounce back?

After succumbing to Tommy John surgery in 2018, Jordan missed all of 2019 recovering. His latest bill of action was in 2017, where he logged a 3.88 ERA over 155.1 innings. Montgomery features a deadly curveball, which was his most frequent pitch over his two-year stint of health.

While using his curve, Monty recorded a .175 batting average against opposing hitters, a .281 slugging percentage, and a 42.8% whiff rate (2017). His fastball is probably his worst pitch, while he also utilized an above-average changeup and slider, giving him a reliable arsenal of options to work through batters.

His influence on the team should be far more significant than we imagine. The expectation is that he will slot in at the 5th spot in the rotation, behind Cole, James Paxton, Severino, and Masahiro Tanaka. When your worst starter has the quality that Mongtomery has, you can justify a bit of premature excitement.

New York Yankees news, rumors: Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar trade pieces for Josh Hader

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New York Yankees, Clint Frazier

Settling with Gerrit Cole would be the easy way out of free agency for the New York Yankees, but general manager Brian Cashman has been given the green light to pursue all targets that would contribute to the further success of the team.

The Yankees managed to climb to 103 wins on the backs of several reserve players like Mike Tauchman, Gio Urshela, Brett Gardner, Clint Frazier, and more. They don’t necessarily need to dive into more free agents or potential trade deals, but owner Hal Steinbrenner is keen on winning a World Series in the next two years. Giving up players that are sitting in a secondary role for starting talent makes sense at this point.

Do the New York Yankees have enough utility options?

Both Miguel Andujar and Clint Frazier are on the line to be traded to the Brewers for Josh Hader, which would bring one of the best relief pitchers to the Bronx. The Brewers are also asking for a top prospect, but Cashman isn’t keen on letting two starting level players and a prospect go for a relief pitcher.

MLB Marathon: Hader for Andujar and Frazier being discussed. #Brewers seeking one more top prospect to finish the deal. Cashman being a tough negotiator. 

However, Hader’s numbers are stellar, and at just 25-years-old, his value is sky-high. Factor in the four years of team control the Bombers would consume, and his influence would be massive.

Here are Hader’s #s from 2017 in relation to other relievers:

204 IP (13th)
2.42 ERA (8th)
2.74 FIP (13th)
.85 WHIP (1st)
.146 Opponent AVG (1st)
15.3 K/9 (2nd)

There’s no such thing as too much pitching, and with both Dellin Betances and Nestor Cortes Jr. departing, Cashman needs to inject more talent into the bullpen. Having multiple quality starters and bullpen arms would give the New York Yankees a better chance at making the World Series, and they don’t want to look back and regret not making a decision that would increase their chances.

Trading away Andujar and Frazier might be a lot, but would it be worth a World Series win in 2020?

Click here for yesterday’s news/rumors!

New York Yankees: 3 secret weapons that inevitably landed Gerrit Cole

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New York Yankees, Larry Rothschild

As the New York Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman initiated a wild goose chase that led them to Southern California, where arguably the best goose in all of baseball resided, the result was precisely what they had hoped. Gerrit Cole, the subsequent name of this goose, was enticed by the Yankees’ efforts in bringing him to the Bronx.

The two bottles of specific wine that tranced Cole and his wife on their anniversary in Florence last year were part of the elaborate equation, smoothing over talks with a bit of sulfite and grapery. However, Cole is a man of ambition and intelligence, two factors that were deciphered after hearing his eloquence at the revealing press conference.

The second of three secret weapons the Bombers used against Cole in their pursuit was former pitcher, Andy Pettite, one of Cole’s childhood figures on the mound. Pettite is a personable man who used his charm to further lure the former Astros ace to New York, but he only carved out a sliver of the credit, a good portion must be attributed to new pitching coach, Matt Blake.

The Yankees hit the nail on the head with Matt Blake:

Blake, who was formerly with the Cleveland Indians, has replaced Larry Rothschild. Big shoes to fill for the young coach, but his analytical approach and benevolence towards progression in modern-day baseball was too appealing to pass up for the Yanks.

Cole, who is a master manipulator of the seams, utilizes new techniques and analytical approaches to improve his abilities, something that Blake can undoubtedly help with, despite this being his first head pitching coach job.

“Matt was pretty impressive in the meeting that we had when I first got to know him,” Cole said.

Blake has never engaged in a mound visit before, and we can imagine he will get plenty of experience with the Yankees, maybe not as much as if he were heading the Red Sox’s crew, but enough to weather the storm.

“I’ve known a couple of pitchers that have come through the Cleveland system and I think any pitcher in the league has probably admired Cleveland from afar,” Cole said. “They’re really unique organization, I think, in the sense that over the last 10 years, they haven’t signed a free-agent pitcher starting pitcher.”

Cleveland has taken an incredible approach towards their pitching, and while the Yankees are a bit more lucrative in their free-agent ways, both systems work. Nonetheless, the knowledge and skill-set that Blake brings with him to New York played a significant part in the landing of Cole on a nine-year, $324 million deal. An excellent start for the 34-year-old coach in Pinstripes.

How do the 2020 New York Yankees stack up against traditional Foes?

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New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole

UNCLE BILL ASKS: HOW DO THE 2020 YANKEES STACK UP TO TRADITIONAL FOES?

It is fair to say that the 2020 Yankees are improved over the last two seasons when they had a 100 and 103 wins.  Let’s start with the pitching.  This coming year they will have a real ace compared to several pitchers trying to be the club’s ace.  Just acquired Gerrit Cole will head a formidable rotation that includes a healthy Luis Severino, who was 19-8 in 2018, before being injured in spring training before the 2019 season.  James Paxton that came on solid this past season winning his last ten games in a row.  Masahiro Tanaka, who is always reliable.  The Yankee will look to him to improve over his 11-9 record.  And at some point, the fifth in the rotation will be Domingo German, who went 18-4 last year before being suspended for alleged domestic violence.  Most think his suspension will be relatively short due to the suspension already served.  While German is away from the team, the Yankees have Jordan Montgomery to hold down that fifth spot.  They also have J.A. Happ assuming he is not traded before the season starts.

Compared to last year, the bullpen has lost Dellin Betances, who recently signed with the Mets.  How much of an impact that will have on the bullpen is questionable as he missed almost all of the last season.  The bullpen is already strong with  Luis Cessa, Adam Ottavino, Tommy Kahnle, Chad Green, Jonathan Loisiga, Zack Britton, and arguably the best closer in the business, Aroldis Chapman.   Add to that the many reports that the Yankees are still looking to add Josh Hader to the pen.  With the analytical approach of the new pitching coach and head of player development, you can only assume they will work hard to get the best performance from the pitching staff.

There is a question mark at the backstop.  Gary Sanchez did improve dramatically defensively behind the plate, but his hitting was off, most likely due to his frequent groin injuries.  The Yankees hope he can stay healthy this year, mainly because they have lost their tried and true backup in Austin Romine, who signed with the Tigers.  That leaves Kyle Higashioka that is adequate as a backup but is not as good offensively as Romine was.  The Yankees have added Erik Katz from the Indians to the system, and may still do more to assure they don’t get caught with their pants down.

As far as the offense is concerned, the Yankees are as potent as any team.   With DJ LaMahieu, a Silver Slugger award winner last year leading off the lineup, he will be on base often.  After LeMahieu will be Aaron Judge, who would have had a great season last year if it wasn’t for injuries.  With Judge, you know he will have plenty of homers.  Following Judge will most likely be Gleyber Torres, who has a good mix of hits and home runs.  He led the team in homers last year.   The order for the rest of the lineup is less clear, and will probably be determined during spring training.  The forth hitter will probably be Giancarlo Stanton or Gary Sanchez.  Both of these players, if healthy, can be powerful in the cleanup stop.   According to who is on the bench, Miguel Andujar, who can be impactful,  Luke Voit, who was developing nicely before injuries, would be expected to take the number 5 spot.  The Yankees have plenty of other players to fill out the rest of the lineup, including recently re-signed Brett Gardner, who had 28 homers last year.

Defensively the Yankees are relatively set.  In the infield, they have Voit or Ford at first, LeMahieu at second and rising star Gio Urhsela holding down the hot corner.  They will have Gleyber  Torres replacing Didi Gregorius, who signed with the Phillies.   The Yankees believe Torres can adequately hold down short.  The duo of Torres and LeMahieu worked well together last year.  Aaron Judge is a lockdown in right field.  Either Gardner or Tauchman will fill in for Hicks until he returns in center, and Stanton will take left, although probably not full time.  They also have Tauchman, Gardner, and Frazier, who can play left field.  All in all, the Yankees have a remarkable team going into the new season, but how do they stand up to their traditional rivals?

HOUSTON ASTROS:  The Astros had the best one-two punch in baseball with Verlander and Cole, who is now a Yankee.  The new one-two will be Verlander and Greinke, which is not anywhere near as intimidating.  The Astros, other than signing a few minor league players and pitchers, really haven’t made any splashes to improve the team.  They did sign Joe Smith to the bullpen and Martin Maldonado as the backup catcher.  Overall although they still have one of the more powerful lineups, the team is lesser for the loss of Gerrit Cole.

TAMPA BAY RAYS:   They Rays came in second last year in the East with 93 wins.  Tampa is always in the picture.  They have not done a lot so far, but the season is still three months away.  The did lose Avisail Garcia to free agency. He has signed with the Brewers.  They traded away Tommy Pham, who was one of their most productive players.  Travis d’Arnaud was also lost to the Braves.  They did sign Yoshitomo Tsutsugo as a slugging outfielder.

All in all, it looks like they have given up more than they have brought in.  Time will tell if they have more moves. So far, they look static to last year.

BOSTON RED SOX:  Wow, I don’t know what to say about the Sox, they appear to be in a giant mess.  They have hired Chaim Bloom as their new General Manager, and he will have to work with a front office more interested in reducing payroll than improving the team.  Offensively they are okay for the time being, but pitching is a big question mark for them.   They lost Rick Porcello to the Mets.   Sale and Price are question marks, Sale their ace, is coming off a 6-11 season.  David Price was only 7-5.  Nathan Eovaldi had injuries and was 2-1.   That leaves Eduardo Rodriguez, who had 19 wins last year and seems a sure bet to have a good season in 2020.   Last year the Sox had 84 wins, and this year looks, not that much better.

MINNESOTA TWINS:  In 2018 the Twins had more losses than wins, in 2019 they came roaring back only to be beaten in the ALDS in four straight games by the Yankees. But the hiring of Rocco Baldelli, nonetheless, had a significant positive impact on the team he won manager of the year. The group remains solid for next year except for the pitching. They did resign Jake Odorizzi, Matt Wisler, and Michael Pineda. Pineda will be on an 80 game suspension that started in September so that he will miss at least a month at the start of the season.  The Twins will have to make more moves before the season starts, but it looks like they will be a contender next season.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS:  Look for the Toronto Blue Jays to make a mark next season. The team has some up and coming young players that keep getting better.   Look for more offense.  The big move the Jays have made this offseason is the acquisition of  Hyun-Jin Ryu, the former Dodger ace.  Last year Ryu was 14-5 with an ERA of 2.32.   They lost Marcus Stroman during the season, and they traded away veteran Aaron Sanchez.  They still have Chase Anderson, Matt Shoemaker, and Tanner Roark.  Adding Ryu to head up the lineup, they should be pretty well set but might want to add another pitcher before the season.  The Jays only had 67 wins last year, but in my opinion, the Jays will become contenders in 2020.

Looking at all these teams, the Yankees stand out as the team that can win it all in 2020.    Other teams in the East will have little chance.  The Red Sox have a lot of question marks, and the Orioles look as if they will have another poor season ahead of them. To me, the Astros and the Twins will be the teams the Yankees will have to beat. 

Yankees rumors continue to indicate Josh Hader is coming to the Bronx

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New York Yankees, Yankees, Brian Cashman

The Yankees haven’t hibernated this offseason like some of the bigger clubs in baseball. Instead, they have insisted on pursuing every big name with availability. They locked up the best pitcher in baseball, Gerrit Cole, for nearly a decade, and now they’re keen on securing one of the best relief pitchers.

After letting Dellin Betances walk in free agency to the Mets, the Bombers are curious about Brewers’ Josh Hader, who’s only 25-years-old and under four years of team control spanning until 2024. Hader recorded a 2.62 ERA last season, earning his second consecutive All-Star nod in just three years as a professional.

The Yankees would love to add a talent like Hader to their bullpen, but his services aren’t a necessity, more of a want. The team managed to log 103 wins last season without Dellin Betances featuring in any significant role, which would imply the Bombers don’t need to part with prospects and starting-caliber players for a player like Hader. Still, GM Brian Cashman is doing whatever it takes to win a World Series in 2020.

Rumors are continuing between the Yankees and Josh Hader:

Dan Federico: For what it’s worth, the same source that told me the Mets we’re pushing hard for Betances a couple of weeks ago told me on Friday that he still believed Josh Hader would end up a Yankee. An opinion, of course, but an informed one

MLB Marathon: As previously reported, the #Yankees and #Brewers are talking Josh Hader trade. Increasingly likely Hader ends up in the Bronx. #MLB

Consider these sources at your discretion, but with more and more people chiming in regarding Hader, the Yankees may be closing in on the elite closer. A decade of no World Series appearances has finally gotten to the psychic of owner Hal Steinbrenner, considering his lavish spending this offseason.

We will continue to update you on any progress made between the two sides and all of the relevant news out in the media. Enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season!

New York Yankees news, rumors: Trading J.A. Happ, adding lefty bat, more!

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New York Yankees, J.A. Happ

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in a few weeks, the remainder of the offseason will feel accelerated. The new year is right around the bend, and New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has already activated his most significant action this period with the signing of Gerrit Cole.

Now, the priorities land on adding diversity and unloading salary space to make room for Cole and his $36 million per season. That’s where J.A. Happ enters the fray, as his $17 million per season doesn’t seem required anymore after posting a bloated 4.91 ERA in 2019.

Do the New York Yankees need to replace Betances, even if it’s Hader?

The Yankees aren’t trying to get rid of Happ since he’s a capable pitcher who played well in 2018. It’s more about money. At 37-years-old, the lefty pitcher is expendable, as the Yankees try to lessen the inevitable luxury tax penalty they will face. Shedding their No. 5 pitcher, which is where Happ would have landed in the rotation (Jordan Montgomery can easily replace him), makes sense. The Blue Jays and Brewers have both been linked to Happ as the Yankees search for a team that is willing to consume his contract.

Finding a lefty bat:

With a majority of the Yankees’ projected lineup next year bring right-handed, the search for a lefty hitter has become pressing. The departure of Didi Gregorius has left Brett Gardner, Mike Tauchman, Tyler Wade, Mike Ford, and Aaron Hicks as lefty options, but most of them are reserves.

Veteran infielder Joe Panik has been floated as an option, but he’s more of a defensive threat than an offensive producer. Add Kyle Schwarber to the mix, a player who launched 38 homers last season, and the Bombers have two targets in their sights. Trading for Schwarber might force Cashman to part with more capital that he would theoretically desire, but the Cubs’ top slugger might be worth the price.

Click here for yesterday’s news and rumors!

New York Yankees starting pitcher welcomes Gerrit Cole with open arms

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

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.”

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.”

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.

New York Yankees: Luis Severino’s New Weapon

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

It’s funny to me how one injury-plagued season has totally changed the world’s perception of New York Yankees starter, Luis Severino. I have seen a lot of people compare the best rotations in baseball, and they talk about Severino as if he was a middle of the rotation kind of arm. Let’s rewind to his previous two seasons before his injury season of 2019. Combining his stats from 2017 and 2018, Luis Severino had a record of 33-14 with a 3.17 ERA (Baseball-Reference). In both of those seasons, he finished in the top 10 in Cy Young voting for the American League. Luis Severino when healthy is an ace, and he is going to continue to get better.

 

Last year was a bump in the road for Sevy where injuries caused him to only make three starts where he went 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA. There is an expectation that Severino is going to be fully healthy going into 2020 and I fully expect his numbers to be on par with his 2017 and 2018 seasons. However, there is something, better yet, someone who will assist in taking Severino to the next level in 2020. That someone is Gerrit Cole.

Cole’s Impact on Severino

In the past few seasons, there was a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Luis Severino to become the pure ace of the Yankee staff. While he has the stuff to do it, I’m not sure New York Yankees fans ever looked at him the way they are already looking at Gerrit Cole. Now, Severino doesn’t have to be the ace of the staff for the Yankees with Gerrit Cole on the team. The pressure of an ace now belongs on the shoulders of Gerrit Cole. How can this benefit Severino?

 

Luis Severino can go into 2020 loose knowing he doesn’t have to be the ace coming off of an injury season. He can relax and focus on getting his mechanics sharpened. I also expect new pitching Coach Matt Blake to play a key role in Severino’s development this season. But, I also expect the new ace of the staff to play the biggest role in Severino making another jump forward. Gerrit Cole is a natural leader and he loves to share knowledge. He also shares a lot of similarities with the flame thrower from the Dominican Republic and I think he will be able to see that. Both righties have explosive fastballs with knee-buckling off-speed pitches.

 

While Sevy seems to stick to the fastball-slider-changeup pitch mix, Cole features four to five pitches, but they do share a similar mix. I think it is going to do absolute wonders for Severino to learn from a similar pitcher who is at the top of the sport. Gerrit Cole is coming from a situation in Houston where he was part of arguably the best 1-2 pitching punch in baseball. If both guys stay healthy, I think the same could be said for the 1-2 punch he will be a part of in 2020.

Let’s Get Bold

I personally think that Gerrit Cole and Luis Severino will make up the most dominant 1-2 punch in baseball over the next five seasons. Yes, Washington has Scherzer and Strasburg, but Scherzer is continuing to age and Strasburg’s health is always in question. I think Severino is going to continue to get better, and I think Gerrit Cole still has room to get better as a pitcher. I think having each other will bring out a little healthy competition and we will see both guys improve over the next several years. The Yankees might very well have two pitchers who will be fixtures in the top 5 of Cy Young voting for the next five years. That only bodes well for the New York Yankees and their dreams of getting to 30 championships as Gerrit Cole alluded to following his Yankees introduction.