When the New York Yankees handed out a nine-year $324 million contract to a pitcher, a lot of analysts second-guessed the decision. But Gerrit Cole was determined to change the fans’ perspective towards the pitchers of baseball. He wanted to show that as much as they enjoy long hits, at the end of the day, it’s the thrower who’s going to win you games.
Over the next few years, Gerrit Cole went on to become one of the best pitchers in the league. Cole became the face of the Yankees alongside Aaron Judge and produced exceptional results for his team. This year, even during challenging times, Cole thrived to produce one of the best seasons of his storied career. While the Yanks went down in the playoff race, the pitcher’s efforts won’t go in vain.
Gerrit Cole Name AL CY Young Finalists By MLB!
The New York Yankees witnessed one of the worst seasons of the past four decades. With an abysmal record of 82-80, the Bronx Bombers finished fourth in AL-East. In a season to forget, the Yanks saw a ray of hope in ace pitcher Gerrit Cole. Every fifth day, when he turned up on the mound, the team saw an opportunity to win. Cole made 33 starts this year, wherein his ERA stood at an all-time low at 2.63. He pitched 209 innings and struck out 222 batters in the process. The pitcher also threw two complete game shutouts and won 15 games for his side.
Congratulations to @GerritCole45 on being named a 2023 AL Cy Young Finalist 👏 pic.twitter.com/beLnSCOPFU
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) November 6, 2023
Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole is all set to be rewarded for his salient efforts. On Monday, MLB named him as one of the three American League CY Young Award finalists. Cole will fight Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman and Twins’ Sonny Gray to claim his career’s first CY Young Award. The results will be out on November 15, and so far, the Yankees ace seems the favorite. Having said that, regardless of the outcome, his presence as a finalist signifies his standing as one of the premier pitchers in the league and is a source of pride for the Yanks. Cole is by far one of the best things that happened to the franchise in a long while. But at the same time, with Cole entering his prime years, it’s important for the Bombers to take full advantage of his brilliance. The ace is their key to the 28th World Series title.
Can Yankees Pair Two CY Young Candidates For 2024?
If stars align, the New York Yankees can have two CY Young candidates at their helm for the 2024 season. Gerrit Cole is obviously signed through 2028. But another former CY Young awardee, Blake Snell, is set to enter free agency this winter. Snell is coming off yet another strong season, which can attain him his second CY Young award.
Blake Snell finished the year with the Padres at 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts across 32 starts. Moreover, the pitcher’s free agency contract is projected to range around $122 million for a five-year deal. That’s a steal deal for a pitcher of Snell’s caliber. Thus, it is a golden opportunity for the Yankees to create a formidable duo of Cole and Snell, who can wreak havoc amongst rivals.
