Is it time to trade for Gerrit Cole?

Gerrit Cole has began his rehab assignments and is coming back shortly from his injury. Now that he is close to being back as the ace for the Yankees, fantasy managers across the globe have been asking the same question: Is it time to trade for Gerrit Cole?

Cole is currently suffering from a right elbow injury that he got in spring training. He was orginally projected to be back and pitching in late May, but now the timetable has been pushed back even further to late-June to early-July. He made his one and only spring training start on March 1, and then after the game Cole got diagnosed with a right elbow injury that will sideline him to June 18-20.

Cole in his one start had 43 pitches thrown, which is a vast improvement for him as this is his first start since the March 1st outing in spring training. In these 43 pitches, Cole pitched 3.1 innings and gave up zero earned runs. Cole will come in as the ace in a lackluster Yankees starting rotation that consists of Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, the new hotshot Luis Gil, and Cody Poteet. Once Cole comes back from injury, he will come in and carry this bullpen and the Yankees pitchers in general.

Last season was Coles last full healthy season and he was insane. He had a 15-4 record with a 2.63 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He also had an incredible 7.5 WAR with 222 strikeouts and only 48 walks, for a 4.63 K/BB ratio. Along with this, he had a 165 ERA + and a 6.8 H9, which both he led the American League in. Gerrit Cole was easily the best pitcher in baseball last season, and the accolades awarded him with a Cy Young and an All-Star, which is the sixth of his career.

Gerrit Cole is the one pitcher that we would trade for no other pitcher. Just off seeing his last season and if he can stay healthy, Cole can be the best fantasy pitcher in all leagues and continue his dominant streak that he has had in the last couple of years. Last season, Gerrit Cole was the #1 fantasy pitcher in points leagues and the roto leagues. If he can get back to this level or even his 2019 type season, then he is going to be considered untouchable in all leagues.