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Yankees Designate A.J. Cole For Assignment

By Steve Adams | January 4, 2019 at 2:25pm CDT

The Yankees announced that they’ve designated righty A.J. Cole for assignment in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Troy Tulowitzki, whose one-year, Major League contract is now official.

The Yankees bought Cole from the Nationals last April, acquiring him in exchange for cash after Washington had designated the one-time top prospect for assignment themselves. Cole gave the Yankees 38 innings of 4.26 ERA ball from that point forth, pitching in primarily a multi-inning relief role. Along the way, Cole offered some signs of encouragement, as he averaged 11.6 K/9 and registered an enormous 15.9 percent swinging-strike rate with a very good 34.3 percent opponents’ chase rate on out-of-zone pitches.

However, Cole was also exorbitantly homer-prone, yielding nine long balls for an average of 2.13 homers per nine innings pitched. That’s been an ongoing problem for the 26-year-old in each of the past three MLB seasons, as he’s averaged a staggering 1.9 homers per nine innings in that time. In 148 innings at the big league level, Cole has a 5.05 ERA with 9.2 K/9 against 3.9 BB/9.

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A.J. Cole New York Yankees Transactions

Yankees Sign Troy Tulowitzki
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Brewers Sign Cory Spangenberg
82 comments
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Comments

  1. TrimReaper

    2 years ago

    AJ Cole is another arm that a bad team in rebuild mode should consider. Jays, O’s, Royals, Tigers, Marlins, Rangers….

    5 Like
    Reply
    • Slipknot37

      2 years ago

      Im surprised the Yankees aqcuired him last year. He did pitch decent though. I agree. A team will want him thats rebuilding. I hope the marlins get him

      2 Like
      Reply
      • Yankeepatriot

        2 years ago

        He wasn’t decent at all

        5 Like
        Reply
        • Slipknot37

          2 years ago

          With Yankees he posted a 4.26 era. Had 49 strikeouts in 38 innings batters hit .258 against him. Its not great. But its decent. What does raise some red flags for me are the homeruns: 9 in those 38 innings. But someone will definitely take a chance.

          3 Like
          Reply
        • ripcookies

          2 years ago

          He was better than kahnle

          Like
          Reply
        • Yankeepatriot

          2 years ago

          That’s not saying much

          Like
          Reply
        • lowtalker1

          2 years ago

          Larger pitcher friendly park with a. Rebuilding team and he will look like an all star

          Like
          Reply
        • slider32

          2 years ago

          Kahnle has a better upside, he was great 2 years ago.

          1 Like
          Reply
        • Troutmagnet

          2 years ago

          He wasn’t decent at all for the Yankees, but for the bottom feeders like my Jays he will do just fine for now.

          Like
          Reply
        • Joe Says...

          2 years ago

          Lowtalker… A larger park like Yosemite.

          Like
          Reply
        • GareBear

          2 years ago

          Miami or Kauffman should suffice

          Like
          Reply
        • Joe Gannon

          2 years ago

          He also will likely not be pitching his home games in a HR paradise like Yankee Stadium when he goes somewhere else.

          1 Like
          Reply
        • Darryl Rose

          2 years ago

          He could give a home run pitching on an airport tarmac.

          Like
          Reply
        • rjsuitor

          2 years ago

          Like the Grand Canyon maybe the ball will stay in the park

          Like
          Reply
      • Zach725

        2 years ago

        Makes sense for the Marlins.

        Like
        Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      2 years ago

      The Royals especially; their park is a little bigger and any one of their outfielders could run something down

      3 Like
      Reply
      • cygnus2112

        2 years ago

        My thoughts exactly! Miami & Detroit with their expansive dimensions would be a fit as well…

        2 Like
        Reply
      • Darryl Rose

        2 years ago

        Can they run to oklahoma?

        Like
        Reply
    • julitschan

      2 years ago

      I agree the Royals need to take a chance on him. With that big ballpark why not?

      1 Like
      Reply
  2. acarneglia

    2 years ago

    Cole actually pitched well with the Yankees when he had opportunities. I’m sure he will get another chance, possible in MIL or SD.

    3 Like
    Reply
    • Yankeepatriot

      2 years ago

      You must have seen a different person then

      3 Like
      Reply
      • seamaholic

        2 years ago

        Homer rates are highly random in small samples. He allows about 3 fewer dingers last year and all of a sudden he’s a really good reliever. Have a feeling someone will get more from him than the Yanks get from Tulo.

        2 Like
        Reply
        • wrigleywannabe

          2 years ago

          His homer rate in 148 career innings is 1.9 hr per 9 IP.

          That’s not a small sample.

          Like
          Reply
        • BrandonBrave91

          2 years ago

          148 innings is what… a little more than half a season for a starter?

          2 Like
          Reply
      • bastros88

        2 years ago

        he was actually pretty great early on, but had a rough second half

        2 Like
        Reply
    • mikeyst13

      2 years ago

      High BB/9, terrible GB%, high BABIP… Pretty much the exact opposite of what the Brewers front office has been looking for in pitchers so I highly doubt it would be there.

      Like
      Reply
    • joepanikatthedisco

      2 years ago

      As long as he wants to start 30 games and pitch 10 innings, he’ll be right at home on the brewers

      2 Like
      Reply
  3. chadkaboom

    2 years ago

    I can see the indians picking him up. They usually have good luck finding bullpen talent

    Like
    Reply
    • Samuel

      2 years ago

      @ chadkaboom;

      Not much at all since Callaway left.

      Mets would do well to step in and turn Cole over to Callaway and Eiland.

      Truth be told, Rothschild has not been terribly effective the past few years with pitchers trying to establish themselves. He’s OK re calibrating veterans that are out of kilter.

      1 Like
      Reply
  4. Yankeepatriot

    2 years ago

    Boone put this bum in so many close games last season smh. Thank god he’s gone !

    3 Like
    Reply
    • timw3558

      2 years ago

      bum that’s made it further than little league career ever did

      1 Like
      Reply
    • driftcat28

      2 years ago

      If only Boone would be gone next

      3 Like
      Reply
      • gotothevideotape

        2 years ago

        AMEN

        1 Like
        Reply
        • Slevin

          2 years ago

          Welcome back from your suspension!!

          3 Like
          Reply
        • gotothevideotape

          2 years ago

          You are an arz if you really think I was suspended, I have been posting in an alias, watching you make more of a jerk of yourself posting and being nasty to others.
          BONG, BOOM, BASH, Smash
          You are not as smart as only you think you are because I have had most of your personal posts to me removed.
          Now that I feel like I have won the lotto, I will sit and watch again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR maybe not, you’ll never know

          1 Like
          Reply
    • Samuel

      2 years ago

      @ Yankeepatriot;

      Not in games I saw…..

      Cole did a lot of mop-up duty, and was withheld from close games.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Yankeepatriot

        2 years ago

        You missed a lot of his games then. Boone put him in numerous close games and it made me sick of Boone

        Like
        Reply
  5. costanza

    2 years ago

    Definitely still has promise, he was pretty solid out of the pen for the yanks outside of maybe 4 or so tough outings out of close to 30 appearances.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Yankeepatriot

      2 years ago

      I saw a lot of his games and he was a nightmare when he came in. He started hot but then regressed to what he really is

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Matthew De Lorge

        2 years ago

        Exactly! He looked great the first handful of game he came in on, but quickly sucked, and yet they kept him on the roster. I will admit, they did let him go long stretches without pitching, so I wonder if any of that led to the bad performance. But all in all, he was there as a long man/mop u guy and failed.

        So glad he got DFA’d because at least I know that THEY know he sucks lol

        Like
        Reply
    • Darryl Rose

      2 years ago

      Yes If I remember correctly those five rough outings were June, July, August. September and 2015-2017.

      Like
      Reply
  6. kimjongun2.0

    2 years ago

    Lost a good reliever for a guy that as I type just pulled a groin and a hammy

    2 Like
    Reply
    • fasbal1

      2 years ago

      A lot of guys pull their groin but never go on the DL.

      Like
      Reply
    • driftcat28

      2 years ago

      Hope you’re talking about Robertson because Cole is not good at all

      Like
      Reply
  7. fasbal1

    2 years ago

    If he would just get hooked up with Astros his spin rate would increase 150%…look at the other Cole.

    Like
    Reply
  8. driftcat28

    2 years ago

    Good

    Like
    Reply
  9. hitman23

    2 years ago

    Good riddance, and he can take Cessa with him.

    Like
    Reply
    • Gleyborday

      2 years ago

      Hes next when Britton signs probably

      2 Like
      Reply
    • Darryl Rose

      2 years ago

      This!!!

      Like
      Reply
  10. Disco Dave

    2 years ago

    hey Al…Comerica should hold some of those long balls…

    1 Like
    Reply
  11. Clarkwburnett

    2 years ago

    Hopefully Cessa is next,Cole started strong and then became absolutely horrible in Key situations.Not sorry to see him go.

    Like
    Reply
  12. stretch123

    2 years ago

    Pick him up Marlins. Won’t hurt…

    Like
    Reply
  13. le

    2 years ago

    Sounds perfect for a team using the “Opener” strategy. A’s?

    1 Like
    Reply
  14. national pastime

    2 years ago

    I hope he clears and Yankees get him back.

    1 Like
    Reply
  15. saratoga

    2 years ago

    Thank God!!!!

    Like
    Reply
  16. a761506

    2 years ago

    To me, there is no justification for the Tulo signing when it means Cole gets released as a result… at this point in his career, no chance Tulo is more valuable than a 26 year old Cole. I do not understand the move at all by the Yankees, especially when I don’t even see Tulo making the team.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Yankeepatriot

      2 years ago

      Tulo is league minimum bench depth with experience and a potential (but extremely unlikely) lightning in a bottle and cole is a scrub reliver who is a dime a dozen

      What is wrong with this again ? Lol

      1 Like
      Reply
    • Slevin

      2 years ago

      Well 10-15 real MLB teams feel differently on whether Tulo was worth it.

      5 Like
      Reply
    • mikeyst13

      2 years ago

      Tulo is only 1 year removed form a 3.4 War season, will be on a minimum contract, and by all accounts looked good in his workouts. There’s a pretty good chance he could wind up better than a negative WAR reliever with a high walk rate and low ground ball percentage pitching in Yankee Stadium. Maybe he makes the roster and maybe not, but he provides some flexibility due to injury or future roster moves.

      4 Like
      Reply
    • Darryl Rose

      2 years ago

      Seriously? Cole is beyond terrible and Tulo can supply solid defense and may hit as well.

      At least Tulo has been good. When has Cole not sucked?

      1 Like
      Reply
  17. bravesfan

    2 years ago

    Cole is that guy with a ton of potential that everyone thinks they can fix

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Darryl Rose

      2 years ago

      His WHIP for the past four seasons

      1.61
      1.33
      1.50
      1.59

      Career ERA is over 5.00

      At some point it would be nice if some of that potential got someone out.

      Like
      Reply
  18. Reflect

    2 years ago

    Obviously making room for Machado

    Like
    Reply
    • Darryl Rose

      2 years ago

      Or Stevie Wonder.

      Like
      Reply
  19. bkwalker510

    2 years ago

    Never forget AJ Cole and Ian Krol we’re part of the same trace once

    Like
    Reply
  20. Emerson83

    2 years ago

    “I bless the rains down in Africa” Is that what he’s saying?

    Like
    Reply
  21. tank62tank62

    2 years ago

    AJ Cole
    Bay bay

    1 Like
    Reply
    • Yankeepatriot

      2 years ago

      lmao #undisputedera

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Samuel

        2 years ago

        Ownership can spend money…….

        But a large segment of Yankee fans stand out as the most entitled, front-running, low baseball-IQ, classless fans in all of MLB.

        2 Like
        Reply
        • Darryl Rose

          2 years ago

          Hey we aren’t front-running.

          Like
          Reply
        • tank62tank62

          2 years ago

          What are you going on about? Samuel

          Like
          Reply
  22. Indiansjoe

    2 years ago

    Hey Dolan, there’s fresh meat on the scrap pile…..hurry up before the flies sign him…I’m mean get on him

    Like
    Reply
  23. TooToughToScuffle

    2 years ago

    Wins Above A Replacement: -0.1

    Like
    Reply
  24. rjsuitor

    2 years ago

    One DFA Down AJ Cole One more to go Luis Cessa Never been this happy since the Yankees gave Sugar Shane Robinson his DFA walking papers

    1 Like
    Reply
  25. shortytallz

    2 years ago

    50man roster. Get it done, mlbpa

    2 Like
    Reply
  26. bdpecore

    2 years ago

    He has a good arsenal of pitches so I’m guessing his issue stems from a lack of control which allows batters to sit back and wait on his fastball or he’s tipping his pitches. Either way it can be corrected with the right pitching coach and adjustments. I’d take a flyer on him if I thought my coaches could help him make the necessary adjustments.

    1 Like
    Reply
  27. formerdraftpick

    2 years ago

    The Pirates should grab Cole and assign him #45. Got to sell that merch.

    1 Like
    Reply
  28. hammertime510

    2 years ago

    A’s

    Like
    Reply
  29. redrooster

    2 years ago

    Preller should claim him and DFA Pirela

    Like
    Reply
  30. danthethriller

    2 years ago

    Weird.

    Christmas was over a week ago.

    Like
    Reply
  31. area 51

    2 years ago

    Getting DFA’d on your birthday—ouch.

    Like
    Reply
  32. kreevich

    2 years ago

    Colorado.

    Like
    Reply

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