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George Steinbrenner Field prepares for Yankees spring training
Staff at George Steinbrenner Field in Florida are working to prepare for the Yankees’ 2024 spring training.
TAMPA, Fla. – Everything has changed since Gerrit Cole’s first Yankees spring training.
Cole arrived at Steinbrenner Field in February 2020 and spearheaded a rotation that included Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, Jordan Montgomery and James Paxton.
Gary Sanchez was the catcher, with Luke Voit and Gio Urshela playing the corners of the infield.
Outfielders Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks, and Clint Frazier appeared in more regular-season at-bats than Aaron Judge, who was on the disabled list.
Of course, it was also a pandemic-shortened season.
One thing that hasn’t changed is that Cole, in his fifth year as a Yankee and 12th year in the majors, is chasing the ever-elusive world championship.
“That’s always on my mind when I get ready,” Cole said Thursday after his first official bullpen session at Yankees camp.
Turnaround from the “disastrous” 2023 Yankees season
Cole’s 2023 season was personally rewarding, ending with him winning his first Cy Young Award.
However, Cole was unanimously selected in the American League during the 1982-80 season, when the Yankees went 23-10 with Cole as a starter and 59-70 with other starters.
The Yankees missed the postseason for the first time since 2016.
“Obviously ‘disaster’ was the right word, but we kept pushing until the end,” Cole said of the club’s “mobilization” to continue the club’s 30-year streak of .500 or better seasons. The goal somehow disappeared. ”
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Going into 2024, “there’s a certain level of determination and focus that might have a little bit of an edge to it,” Cole said of the bitter ending.
“Hopefully we can use that as motivation.”
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In a perfect pinstriped world, Yoshinobu Yamamoto would be lockering next to Cole in his super-upgraded home clubhouse at Steinbrenner Field.
But the coveted Japanese free agent starter signed a $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Yankees pivoted to Marcus Stroman with $37 million guaranteed through 2025. did.
Cole called Stroman “one of the tallest, fiercest competitors in the game” and said his profile is “very different than a lot of our guys, and I think that’s important.”
“We’re really excited to have him,” Cole said. “Every time I met him…I really enjoyed my time and experience with him.”
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As Cole pointed out, four of the Yanks’ starters are MLB All-Stars, including Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortez, with talents like Chase Hampton and Will Warren rising through the ranks.
If Stroman produces a high ground ball rate, Rodon and Cortez bounce back to season, and No. 5 starter Clark Schmidt makes further progress, Cole will be leading a strong staff.
But those are a lot of “assumptions”, especially when it comes to health.
Avoiding the injured list
Cole started 33 games for the Yankees in 2023, followed by Schmidt’s 32.
From there, former Yankees Domingo German (19 games) and Luis Severino (18) have made the most starts for a club that is once again plagued by injuries.
“Certainly there were injuries beyond the normal that affected us,” Cole said, referring to Aaron Judge’s costly collision with the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium. He talked about the 2023 team.
“That being said, we get injured too much as a group. We need to improve,” Cole said, focusing on offseason preparation.
To that end, Rodon has reached better physical condition after dealing with forearm and back issues last year. And like Cortez, he’s already been thrown live into camp, coming off two stints on the IL with rotator cuff inflammation.
Cole called Rodon a “terrible competitor” who “desires the ball” and said he expects the $162 million left-hander to “get the job done like a pro. That’s what he is. ” he said.
“He’s been here (Tampa) for a while, and that speaks to his dedication and desire to improve from last year.”
Preparing for the title
For Cole, who is entering his age 33 season, the chances of winning a team title are not as wide open as they were in 2020.
In the future, he is “not without a contingency plan” to remain a front-line starter into his late 30s.
“The main goal is to keep it going as long as possible,” Cole said. “I’ve thrown myself out of tight spots many times without my number one weapon. Whether the situation holds or starts to decline, I still have many options.”
Cole increased his use of the cutter in 2023, and the Yankees gained even more offensive weapons in 2024 with the addition of slugger Juan Soto.
“Just a great hitter,” Cole said of Soto. “Best strike zone feel I’ve ever encountered.”
Cole has room to win a second Cy Young Award, but preparing to win a world championship is “really at the top of the list.”
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