Yankees Daily Trade Deadline Profile: Gerrit Cole

MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline is July 31st. As the New York Yankees appear to be in playoff contention, every day this month we will take a look at a player who could be involved in the Yankees’ deadline activity. These players will either be current Yankees who could be traded away or players from other organizations who New York could look to acquire for the playoff push.

As previously mentioned, controllable starting pitching is likely at the top of Brian Cashman’s trade deadline wish list.

ST. LOUIS, MO – JUNE 24: Starter Gerrit Cole (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

SP Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates, Buy

Former MLB General Manager and MLB Network radio host Jim Bowden recently put together a plan for a power arm-filled 2018 Yankees rotation. Bowden’s plan started with the Yankees going after the Pirates’ Gerrit Cole at the trade deadline.

I love Bowden’s idea as well as his blueprint to accomplish one of MLB’s top starting rotations.

I’m going to go one step further by attempting to put together a trade package New York could offer Pittsburgh.

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Before we get into the players who could be leaving the Yankees organization, let’s take a look at the pitcher New York would be adding.

Cole is in the middle of his worst season thus far in his career, but five of his last six starts have been quality ones.

In total, Cole is 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA in 19 starts this year. He also has a 98-27 strikeout to walk ratio but has struggled giving up the longball with 20 home runs allowed.

Like Sonny Gray, Cole has two more years of arbitration eligibility. Cole, however, is a year younger than Gray at just 26 years old.

The Yankees would also have the ability to lock Cole up long-term with their deep pockets.

Gerrit Cole could be at the top of the Yankees starting rotation for years to come if he’s acquired at the trade deadline.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 10: Yankee Stadium (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

The Trade Package

Modeling this deal after the package the Chicago Cubs gave up for Jose Quintana, the Yanks will send over two top-100 prospects and two other minor leaguers.

The two top-100 prospects New York could send Pittsburgh’s way are Jorge Mateo (#37) and Justus Sheffield (#66).

We profiled Jorge Mateo earlier this month. He is a speedy shortstop that doesn’t have an exact path to pinstripes but could be Pittsburgh’s future shortstop.

Justus Sheffield was acquired at last year’s trade deadline along with Clint Frazier in return for Andrew Miller. Sheffield has pitched well at Double-A this year. MLB.com‘s seventh-best left-handed pitching prospect is 7-5 with a 3.09 ERA for the Trenton Thunder.

Brian Cashman can add in prospects Jake Cave and Brady Lail.

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Jake Cave is a 24-year-old outfielder who the Yankees lost in the 2015 Rule 5 Draft but he was later returned by the Cincinnati Reds.

The Yankees recently traded another player they had returned to them from the Rule 5 Draft when they dealt 2016 Rule 5 draftee Tyler Webb to the Milwaukee Brewers for Garrett Cooper.

Cave is hitting .320 with seven home runs and 16 RBI in 27 games at Triple-A. He could be a part of a major league outfield with another organization.

Brady Lail could be the final piece to a Gerrit Cole deal. Adding in another young pitcher could win the Pirates’ front office over.

The 23-year-old right-hander is 5-2 with an ERA of 4.55 in 13 starts. Lail is also two for two in save opportunities.

With this being his third season spending time in Triple-A, Lail could get a better opportunity to pitch in the major leagues elsewhere.

A prospect package of Mateo, Sheffield, Cave, and Lail should, at the very least, get the Pirates listening.

Next: Yankees Daily Trade Deadline Profile: Sonny Gray

Knowing they likely won’t be able to sign Gerrit Cole long-term, Pittsburgh may want to trade him now to get the most for their ace.

If New York is able to sweep in and acquire the young righty, he could anchor the power rotation that Jim Bowden, and Yankees fans, have been dreaming of.

Come back tomorrow as we turn our attention to New York’s bullpen problems and profile one of the top relievers on the trade market.

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