The Yankees have wasted Gerrit Cole's prime

The New York Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a nine-year, $324 million contract in December 2019. New York viewed Cole as the ace that would help break their decade-long World Series drought.

Cole signed with New York following a historic 2019 campaign. Through 33 starts with the Astros that season, Cole posted a 2.50 ERA with 326 strikeouts and a career-best 0.89 WHIP. 

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner broke the bank for Cole because they viewed him as the "missing piece." What the Yankees have found out after almost four seasons with Cole is that they needed many pieces, not just him.

Since becoming a Yankee, among qualified pitchers, Cole has struck out the most batters in MLB (764), posted the second-best K/9 (11.2), thrown the third most innings in MLB (615.1), recorded the seventh-best WAR (13.2) and the 17th-best ERA (3.22). 

Few pitchers have been better than Cole in the last four seasons, yet the Yankees haven't made it to a World Series or even won a game in the ALCS, despite Cole's solid postseason pitching stats with New York (3.53 ERA in 38.2 innings, with 56 strikeouts.)

In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Cole posted a 2.84 ERA but was let down by his teammates in the postseason. During Game 5 of the ALDS against Tampa Bay, Cole threw 5.1 innings of one-run ball, but the Yanks managed to score just one run. Aroldis Chapman gave up the game-winning home run to Rays' Mike Brosseau in the bottom of the eighth.

The Yankees were 76-52 on Aug. 27, 2021, but faltered down the stretch, finishing the season 92-70, forcing them to go on the road to Boston for a do-or-die AL Wild Card game. New York was eliminated, losing 6-2 to the Red Sox, in which Cole struggled, throwing just two innings and allowing three runs.

In 2022, the Yankees had a historic start to the season but were eventually swept by the Astros in the ALCS as the lineup went silent after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. In 2023, New York,  who entered the season with the second-highest payroll in baseball, are 61-66, 10 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot despite Cole being the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award.

The Yankees have had an ace for four seasons and failed to win a game in the championship series or later. The Bronx Bombers have one of the best pitchers and best position players (Aaron Judge) in the sport but have failed to support them by ignoring glaring holes in left field, at third base, and shortstop for much of Cole's tenure.

The Yankees used to break the bank for big-time free agents, but have failed to give an external free agent a major deal since Cole. 

Five All-Star-caliber shortstops were on the market in 2022, but the Yankees opted not to sign any of them, including Corey Seager, who seemed like the perfect fit but signed with the Texas Rangers. Cashman instead decided to trade for shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and third baseman Josh Donaldson.

Cole isn't getting any younger and it's unlikely that he can replicate the numbers he's producing now for the remainder of his multiyear deal. In other words, the Yankees have wasted a prime window to win.