The New York Yankees acquired right-hander A.J Cole, but his future with the team is uncertain.
Last night, the New York Yankees acquired A.J. Cole from the Washington Nationals for cash considerations. It was viewed as an opportunity for him to have a fresh start with a new team, one that he desperately needed.
However, Ken Rosenthal reports that it’s not likely he’ll be with the team for much longer. It would be wise for A.J. Cole to not get too comfortable in his new digs, or invest in anything long-term, that’ for certain.
A.J. Cole hasn’t had much consistency throughout his career. In 2017, 78 of the 229 batters he faced reached base. This season hasn’t been any better for the righty, as 22 of his 53 batters made it on base over the course of 10 1/3 innings.
Unlikely A.J. Cole will be with #Yankees long. Simply replaces David Hale as long man as part of ongoing roster churn and is likely to be next DFA. Yankees acquired Cole last night from #Nationals for cash considerations.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 24, 2018
He also has allowed 6 home runs and 15 earned runs. It’s certainly a season to forget for A.J. Cole, and unfortunately, it’s only just started. With a career ERA of 5.32, not much good can be expected from the 26-year-old.
For the Yankees, this move should be considered nothing more than paperwork by the front office. David Hale was designated for assignment for this roster move, and A.J. Cole will just be the next David Hale. The Yankees are keeping flexibility on their roster for potential future moves, or perhaps A.J. will be a player to be named later in a move yet to come.
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It’s unknown if the Yankees plan to use A.J. Cole in any games, but if they do, they need to be careful. He’s having a rough season so far and should have a shortened leash. He has an awful lot to prove, and if he is given a chance with the team, he needs to take advantage of it, or he may see his career end a lot sooner than he’d like.