Yankees could’ve traded for Verlander, Cole but now pay price

The New York Yankees had a chance to trade for Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander and now they are paying the price for their inaction.

The Houston Astros just beat the New York Yankees in the ALCS for the second time in three seasons, and it is with two starters who could be in Yankees uniforms right now.

Justin Verlander was traded in 2017 to Houston right before the end of the August waiver-trade deadline. He, of course, was the primary reason why they were able to win the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers and he is on the verge of winning another ring.

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Gerrit Cole was also on the trade market when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2018, and he was acquired by Jeff Luhnow. It could end yo being one of the best acquisitions in Astros history, as Cole is currently the most dominant pitcher in the game and the Game 1 starter for the Astros in the World Series starting on Tuesday.

Now, Jeff Luhnow wanted to win so badly that he was willing to give up some prospects to get two aces that would propel him to the World Series. Oh, and by the way, if you would ask an Astros fan who they gave up for Cole and Verlander, they probably would only be able to name one or two players. Maybe Joe Musgrove in the Cole trade.

Other than that, it seems like they got two aces in exchange for less than impactful players.

So, may ask Brian Cashman this question: Why couldn’t the Yankees pull off a couple of trades for future Hall of Famers?

He would say that ownership declined to take on Verlander’s contract in a trade. Like the Steinbrenner’s don’t have enough money to add a Hall of Famer to a mediocre rotation.

Well, it was a costly decision (pun intended) and they get to watch the Astros play in the World Series against two pitchers that could’ve been in pinstripes.