MLB trade rumors: Why the Yankees should not trade for Gerrit Cole
Despite their recent struggles, the New York Yankees have been playing things smart, which is something they haven't done in a while.
With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, rumors will be flying everywhere. A lot of them don't pan out, while some do. Bad teams are selling. Good teams are buying. And then there are those team sitting a few games above or below .500 with their direction unknown.
That describes the Pittsburgh Pirates perfectly.
The Pirates sit at 35-41: smack dab in the middle of the NL Central. Based on actions taken last year, the Pirates look to be leaning toward a rebuild. Because of this, the stove is hotter than ever for the Bucs this year.
They have a few names out in the rumor mill. But the biggest and most realistic to leave Pittsburgh is starting pitcher Gerrit Cole.
Cole has not been as dominant this season as he has been in past years. Despite that, he's still 6-6 with an ERA of 4.11 in 96 1/3 innings pitched. He has a very good track record as well. In 2015, he went 19-8 alongside a 2.60 ERA. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting.
Cole would also yield a hefty return for the Pirates. Since the Pirates are rebuilding toward the future, the return would include two to three prospects. And after having two straight really good starts, now appears to be the right time to pull the trigger on a trade.
Because Cole hasn't returned to his 2015 form during these past two seasons, the return wouldn't be as big in the offseason as it would be at the deadline. A team in need of a starting pitcher for the playoff push would overpay for Cole now. They would not overpay over the offseason.
A team that would overpay for Cole is the New York Yankees. Despite their dire need for a starting pitcher, this isn't the year to overpay for one.
It's been rumored that the Yankees are one of the teams waiting on the Pirates' doorstep for a swipe at Cole. And who could blame the Yankees for wanting him? He'd solidify the team's need for a starting pitcher.
Actually, calling it a "need" would be an understatement.
Even though the Yankees are in the thick of the playoff push and are at the top of the AL East, the package for Cole is not what the team needs to give up right now.
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Rather than rebuilding after their dynasty of the 90s and success in the 2000s, the Yankees opted to overpay for washed up veterans just to get rear ends in seats. Their farm system went sour and so did the team's play on the field.
But due to their fire sale last year, the Yankees realized that the correct route to win is through rebuilding and a strong farm system. The Yankees' farm system went from ranking near the bottom to ranking number two in baseball per MLB Pipeline.
To get Cole, the Yankees would have to give up a large portion of their talent down on the farm.
For the Yankees, this isn't a lightning-in-a-bottle-type year. At the very least, this team is built to contend for the next decade. This is the first year of many successful ones. There's no need to go all-in on a pitcher who is not worth the payment.
The Yankees surprised themselves with their success thus far and no one saw them as contenders this year.
So why go all-in on this year?
The Yankees are 2-10 in their past 12 games and have fallen back down to earth without a parachute. Aaron Hicks has hit the DL and the team is in general disarray.
In simpler terms, this isn't the year.
They're in a tight race with the Boston Red Sox for first place, and the Red Sox are expected to win it. The smarter thing for the Yankees to do would be to let this year play out, see how the cards fall and get stronger as a team for next season.
Because at the end of the day, there is no need for quick satisfaction when you can have long-term success.
It just takes time.
