Gerrit Cole is signing with the New York Yankees for nine years, and with that addition, they should be considered as the favorites to win it all.
Jon Heyman reported late Tuesday night that Gerrit Cole was signing with the New York Yankees for nine years and $324 million. This is the biggest contract ever for a pitcher, just one day after Stephen Strasburg signed a $245 million contract.
There are no deferrals and there is a no-trade clause, according to Joel Sherman.
But let’s get to what this deal means for the Yankees. Gerrit Cole is one of the best pitchers in the game, and the Yankees were one piece away in my opinion from being the favorites for the World Series.
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The bullpen is still largely intact with Adam Ottavino, Zach Britton, and Aroldis Chapman, The rotation behind Cole includes Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, and James Paxton. Their lineup will include Gleybar Torres, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and D.J. LeMahieu.
Just last year, they took the Houston Astros to six games in the American League Championship Series and now the Astros will be without Cole who was their saving grace during the postseason, so the Yankees will have the advantage shall they match up again in the postseason next year.
I did say that they will be World Series favorites so let’s look at the National League compared to the Yankees.
The Los Angeles Dodgers still don’t have a strong rotation with no certainty if Hyun-Jin Ryu will return, and they still have a lot of work to do in the bullpen but they seem to be focused on Anthony Rendon right now.
The Washington Nationals have a strong rotation yet again, but they are unlikely to bring back Anthony Rendon. The Cardinals and Cubs are going to be battling it out again for the Central along with the Reds and they both have a lot of flaws that include the bullpen.
I think adding the best pitcher in the game makes the Yankees World Series favorites.