How to top 2023 for Gerrit Cole? A Yankees World Series run

TAMPA, Fla. – A whole lot has changed since Gerrit Cole’s first Yankees spring training.

Arriving at Steinbrenner Field in February 2020, Cole fronted a rotation that included Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, Jordan Montgomery and James Paxton.

Gary Sanchez was the catcher, while Luke Voit and Gio Urshela played the corner infield spots.

Outfielders Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier wound up with more regular season plate appearances than Aaron Judge, who spent time on the injured list.

Of course, that was also the pandemic shortened season.

What hasn’t changed is Cole’s pursuit of that up-to-now elusive world championship, entering year five as a Yankee and year 12 in the majors.

“It’s on the forefront of your mind every time you’re preparing,’’ Cole said Thursday, following his first official bullpen session at Yankees camp.

Pivoting from a 2023 Yankees season that was a "disaster''

Cole’s 2023 season was personally rewarding, ending with his first Cy Young Award.

But that unanimous selection in the American League came during an 82-80 season, with the Yankees posting a 23-10 record in Cole’s starts and a 59-70 mark with anyone else starting.

For the first time since 2016, the Yankees missed the postseason.

“Obviously, ‘disaster’ was an appropriate word but we kept pushing all the way to the end,’’ Cole said of “rallying’’ to keep the club’s three-decades long streak of above-.500 seasons going “when the greater goals kind of faded away.’’

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Entering 2024, “I’d say there’s a level of determination, a level of focus that maybe has a little bit of an edge to it,’’ Cole said of a bitter finish that “is still pretty fresh in our mind.

“Hopefully, we use it as motivation.’’

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In a perfect pinstriped world, Yoshinobu Yamamoto would have a locker next to Cole in the 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 at guaranteed $37 million through 2025.

Cole termed Stroman as “one of the highest and fiercest competitors we have in this game,’’ with a profile that’s “a lot different than a lot of the guys we have, which I think is important.

“Just really excited to have him on board,’’ said Cole. “Every time I’ve come across him…I really enjoyed my time and experience with him.’’

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As Cole noted, four of the Yanks’ starters – including Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes – have been MLB All-Stars and there’s talent moving up the ranks in Chase Hampton and Will Warren.

If Stroman is producing high groundball rates, and if Rodon and Cortes have bounce back seasons, with No. 5 starter Clarke Schmidt making additional strides, Cole is leading a strong staff.

But those are a lot of ifs, starting with health.

Avoiding the injured list

Cole led the 2023 Yankees with 33 starts, followed by Schmidt’s 32.

From there, ex-Yankees Domingo German (19) and Luis Severino (18) had the most starts on a club beset by injuries, again.

“Certainly, there were injuries that were outside of the normal realm that impacted us,’’ Cole said of the 2023 team, referencing Aaron Judge’s costly collision with the Dodger Stadium outfield wall.

“With that said, we get injured too much as a group. We need to improve,’’ said Cole, putting an emphasis on offseason preparation.

To that end, Rodon has arrived in better physical shape after dealing with forearm and back issues last year. And he’s already thrown live in camp, as has Cortes, coming off two IL stints due to rotator cuff inflammation.

Calling Rodon a “tremendous competitor’’ who “wants the ball,’’ Cole expects the $162 million lefty “to handle his business like a pro, which he is.

“He’s been down here (in Tampa) for a while, and that speaks to his dedication and desire to improve on last year.’’

Preparing for a title run

Entering his age 33 season, Cole’s window for winning team titles isn’t as wide as it was in 2020.

Down the road, “it’s not like I don’t have a contingency plan’’ for remaining a frontline starter into his later 30s.

“The main goal is to maintain the stuff as long as possible,’’ said Cole. “I’ve pitched out of a lot of jams without my No. 1 weapon. Regardless of whether the stuff holds or starts to dip, I still have a lot of options.’’

Cole increased the use of his cutter in 2023, and the Yankees have more offensive weapons in 2024, led by the addition of slugger Juan Soto.

“Just a magnificent hitter, really,’’ Cole said of Soto. “Best feel for the strike zone that I’ve ever come across.’’

Cole has room on the mantle for a second Cy Young award but preparing “to win a world championship’’ is “really at the top of the list.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Gerrit Cole says a Yankees World Series can top Cy Young season