The departure of Juan Soto has been the defining storyline of the Yankees’ offseason. While his 41 home runs will be missed, his massive contract has shifted attention away from the star power the team still possesses. As spring training games get underway, the team’s veterans are ramping up for action.
Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole recently faced off on the Yankees’ backfields, with Cole later discussing the matchup with MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
“I enjoy it,” Cole told Hoch. “I’ve been doing this a long time and have seen my fair share of line drives—both hitting them and getting hit by them. There’s always some uncertainty when facing guys who can really crush the ball, which isn’t exactly comfortable. But competing against Judge and talking about it afterward is special.”
Judge launched one of his signature left-field home runs off Cole, according to Hoch. The Yankees will take on the Red Sox on Monday afternoon, though neither veteran will be in the lineup. Cole isn’t set to pitch until his next scheduled rotation spot, and Judge won’t play until March 1.
Despite offseason additions, the Yankees will still rely on Cole and Judge to lead the way this season.
Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole need to lead the Yankees
Last season, Aaron Judge delivered what could be considered the best offensive season ever by a right-handed hitter. He led the league with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, a 10.8 bWAR, and a 1.159 OPS. Following such an incredible regular season, expectations were sky-high for the playoffs. However, Judge struggled, hitting just .184 over 14 games. His career playoff OPS sits at .768, significantly lower than his regular-season mark of 1.010.
Gerrit Cole, on the other hand, had a season that was the opposite of Judge’s. Injuries limited him for much of the regular season, where he made just 17 starts, finishing with an 8-5 record and a 3.41 ERA over 95 innings. But when the postseason arrived, Cole stepped up, delivering a 2.17 ERA across five appearances. His standout performance in Game 5 of the World Series, despite defensive miscues behind him, helped keep the Yankees in contention.
