The New York Yankees’ star pitcher Gerrit Cole is anticipated to be out for the initial twelve weeks of the 2024 season, sparking discussions about how the team will cope without him.
According to reports by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees had been linked to several potential replacements for their rotation, including making an offer to free agent Blake Snell and revisiting trade talks with the Chicago White Sox before Dylan Cease was traded to the San Diego Padres. With Cole indicating that it’s premature to set a return date, attention has turned to exploring options to fill his void.
Dayn Perry suggested that the Yankees should explore the trade market for pitchers who could step in for Cole.
He specifically recommended considering a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for Freddy Peralta, a 27-year-old pitcher who is in the fourth year of a five-year, $15.5 million contract. Perry highlighted Peralta’s impressive performance over the past three seasons, with a notable ERA+ of 123 and a solid K/BB ratio of 3.58. He described Peralta as an underrated pitcher who could significantly bolster the Yankees’ pitching staff.
Perry also noted that the Brewers might be inclined to sell players, having already traded Corbin Burnes and Adrian Houser during the offseason, and with All-Star closer Devin Williams sidelined with a projected 12-week injury. This situation, as Perry framed it, suggests that the Brewers could be open to dealing players, including Peralta, to strengthen their team further.
Trading for Freddy Peralta Would Give the New York Yankees a Rotation Leader in Place of Gerrit Cole
Freddy Peralta is currently expected to step into the role of leading the Milwaukee Brewers’ rotation, particularly with Brandon Woodruff sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Over his six seasons in the majors, Peralta has accumulated a career ERA of 3.83 and secured 42 victories in 97 starts. Notably, as Perry highlighted, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is exceptional, ranking within the top five in K-BB% ahead of notable pitchers such as Zack Wheeler, Luis Castillo, and even Gerrit Cole.
During his standout 2021 season, Peralta showcased his All-Star caliber performance by tallying 195 strikeouts over 144.1 innings, maintaining an impressive 2.81 ERA. Furthermore, there has been an overall increase in his pitch velocities since that season.
The New York Yankees Have Announced Their Opening Day Replacement for Gerrit Cole
The Yankees might opt to wait and observe the early stages of the season before engaging in serious negotiations for a pitcher like Peralta. However, the absence of Cole has left the team grappling with the question of who will take on the role of Opening Day starter. Ultimately, they settled on Nestor Cortes, who aims to rebound from a challenging 2023 season marred by injuries, where he posted a 4.97 ERA.
The lack of reliable options behind Cole becomes glaringly apparent if Cortes struggles to perform well in the first half of the 2024 season. In such a scenario, the Yankees may find themselves compelled to pursue trade options with a heightened sense of urgency.
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