Juan Soto has joined the chorus of fans urging the New York Yankees to make a huge trade.
Soto supported a prospective pursuit of pitcher Blake Snell and was excited about combining him with Gerrit Cole at the top of the team’s rotation. While Soto had no inside information about Snell possibly joining, he was completely supportive of the concept.
“It would be incredible to have two Cy Young winners back-to-back. “It would be fantastic,” Soto told Jon Heyman of the New York Post. “He’s a nice person and a great player. I’d appreciate any assistance we can receive.
“I am confident that if he comes over, he will greatly benefit the squad. It’s always excellent to have talented people on your team. I’d never say no. So it’s a good fit for him, I believe.”
The Yankees’ main issue with Snell is financial. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has been requesting a large contract this summer, and the Yankees, who are already facing a luxury tax burden, are hesitant to pay it. They have not denied it, at least publicly, but sources indicate that something would need to alter for them to make such a huge commitment.
Snell and Soto spent a year and a half together in San Diego. Snell’s best season came in 2023, when he produced a league-leading 2.25 ERA.
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Can Gerrit Cole Hit the Over on K’s in 2024?
For all that went wrong for the New York Yankees last season, one thing went right: Gerrit Cole. So, of course, he’s a guy who oddsmakers are keeping an eye on ahead of the 2024 MLB season.
The veteran right-hander earned the AL Cy Young Award after leading the American League with a 2.63 ERA (second only to NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell), leading the league with a 0.98 WHIP, and making 24 quality starts. He also ranked seventh in the league with 222 strikeouts, marking the third consecutive season Cole has more than 200 Ks – an area that sportsbooks and bettors both enjoy focusing on.
DraftKings has set the over/under for Cole’s strikeouts this season at 215.5, with the Over listed as favorable at -115. Given his recent track record, this figure appears fairly attainable. However, Cole is 33 years old and may be approaching the time in his career when his numbers begin to decline.
So, what’s the safe bet on Cole’s strikeout total in 2024?
Gleyber Torres strikes out against Gerrit Cole.twitter.com/IrBinrgTg2
• Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) February 21, 2024.
Brian Murphy, an MLB.com contributor, believes Cole will be a strikeout leader again in 2024 despite his age, citing his consistency. And if Cole remains consistent and healthy, betting on him to have more than 215.5 strikeouts appears to be a good bet.
“The two-time MLB strikeout king is still the game’s most reliable pitcher when it comes to racking up the K’s,” Murphy said in a statement. “Cole’s 1,418 strikeouts since the start of 2018 are 200 more than anyone else, and he has averaged 265 K’s over the last five full seasons.”
Pinstripe Alley presents a similar argument. They point out that Cole’s fastball’s little drop in velocity last year was greeted with consistency as a result of modifications he made to stay in the starting rotation longer.
“After more consistently throwing his heater up in the zone, and less in the heart, Cole saw more overall success with the pitch despite getting fewer whiffs,” according to the website. “As he enters his mid-30s, redefining how he uses the unique properties of his four-seamer will be crucial for him to sustain long-term health.”
They go on to say: “Taking off a little juice may have hurt the whiff and strikeout profile of the pitch, but the gains on command and health sustainability will prove to be a good decision for Cole.”
Random Yankees highlights until Opening Day – Day 101:
Gerrit Cole records his 200th strikeout of the Cy Young season (9/10/23) (image).twitter.com/aLCSxhLOUK
— YankeesMuse (@YankeesMuse), January 22, 2024.
As Yardbarker previously stated, no one can forecast how healthy a team or its players will be before the season begins. However, it appears like Gerrit Cole is already taking steps to assure his continued health as a starting pitcher. With that in mind, there are numerous reasons to believe he can exceed DK’s strikeout projections for 2024.
We’ll have to watch how he goes in his first regular-season game. He had to be the Opening Day starter after winning the AL Cy Young and recording 222 strikeouts, right?
