The Indians announced that they’ve designated right-hander A.J. Cole for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to newly acquired right-hander Nick Wittgren.
If Cole’s time with the Cleveland organization is up, his stay will have been brief; the Indians only claimed him off waivers from the Yankees back on Jan 11. He’d have been in line to compete for a bullpen job in Spring Training and may still have that opportunity, though he’ll first need to clear outright waivers. If another club claims Cole, that new team will have to open the season with him on the Major League roster or else once again expose him to waivers, as Cole is out of minor league options.
Cole, who turned 27 earlier this month, gave the Yankees 38 innings of 4.26 ERA ball after being acquired from the Nationals in 2018, pitching in primarily a multi-inning relief role. Along the way, he averaged a strong 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, he was also immensely susceptible to home runs, as he averaged 2.13 homers per nine innings pitched with the Yankees. In all, between New York and Washington, Cole yielded a staggering 15 home runs in 38 innings.
That said, Cole was at one point considered to be among the most promising pitching prospects in all of baseball, and surely the strikeout rate, swinging-strike rate and chase rate could hold appeal to another team — particularly one that is thin on rotation depth and/or has multiple bullpen spots up for grabs. He’ll need to learn to keep the ball in the yard, but the level at which Cole missed bats in 2018 would be elite if he proved it to be sustainable; the 15.9 percent swinging-strike rate he logged as a Yankee would’ve ranked 12th in the game among qualified relievers last year.
Easy come, easy go.
The Pirates ABSOLUTELY need to claim this guy so I can use my Cole jersey again.
Or the Indians need to, so people can use their old Alex Cole jerseys…..if there is such a thing.
Oh yeah, mine is right next to the Eddie Taubensee jersey I have in my closet (that’s a joke)
Nice!
I’d like to see the Royals give him a shot
yep, same here
Yep! He seems as though he’d have more to offer than Ben Lively for example…
Los Tigres Del Norte!
He was intriguing, but probably wouldn’t have made the opening day roster, so at least they have a little more flexibility since he was out of options. Since he made it to the Indians on waivers the first time, hopefully he’ll clear.
This must be the guy the Twins are waiting for.
They had the chance to claim him prior. He was dfa by the Yankees and the twins where lower on the pole.
Seems like he’d be a solid fit for the Marlins. Their bullpen has pretty much nobody in it, he’s cheap, and their ballpark would help negate his biggest weakness in giving up HRs.
Only problem is that he came from there and the Marlins cut him, but who knows…
Cole was not on the Marlins. Wittgren was…Cole could do well in MIA for the same reason the OP says. I agree I would like to see him there… Someone who can work with him and let him stay there for a bit
Rockies: pick this guy up
I’m Colorado he would give up 30 homers in 15 innings
Well he gives up homeruns but he feels like a power arm and that’s what Colorado wants in Denver
It doesn’t matter how hard he’d throw if every pitch ended up in the cheap seats at Coors Field
I think you vastly underestimate how good of a pitching coach bud Black was and how he continues to help pitchers even as manager
Oh I know, but my reply was more because the previous comment said that he gives up home runs but at least he throws hard
How did that work out for Shaw?
Should they trade talent for him? Or simply hope for a waiver claim?
I wasnt too impressed with this guy when he was on the Yankees. He did alright, but i felt like he fell into a bit of good luck. Surprised that the Indians dropped him though. Although Cole might be that good, the Indians bullpen is in rough shape and its not really getting any better. If I were them I’d have as much competition as possible coming into spring since the bullpen is already just a bunch of scraps.
Orioles should take a flyer on this guy.
Agreed. His issue is giving up HRS though. Probably not going to get any better in Camden Yards. Nonetheless I like his arm more than some guys we have on our 40
Yeah, OPACY won’t help his HR issues, but he could be a decent flip if he knocks them down for a half a season.
Pretty sure getting him out of the AL East bandboxes like NY and Fenway would help with that HR problem.
I wouldn’t mind the Angels claiming him and giving him a shot in Spring Training. Worst case is you end up putting him on waivers at the same time other teams are putting tons of other teams are waiving guys.
I believe as a collective whole NL Central would be more homeruns due to smaller parks. Imo al west would be the best spot.
Sure you got Texas but that new park should take away homeruns.
Nl west has Colorado and az
Being in the NL east didn’t help him either. He really just needs to stop giving up hrs or it’s going to be a short career.
Come on, I thought he was going to remain with Cleveland for this coming season. What team will claim him now? Can it be the San Francisco Giants, Blue Jays or Red Sox?
How does a guy who can’t get LHH out get acquired by the NYY and spends 5 months on their roster in that home ballpark? Someone needs to teach him a pitch that gives him a chance against LHH and then maybe he’s a guy who can go through the order one time. Clearly there’s some swing & miss to his arsenal.
SF has a hitter unfriendly RF maybe there, or maybe the guys in PIT or CHW can help him they seem to be good at that.
A’s could use him. I believe they traded fro him before then traded him back to Washington
Why you guys aren’t showing about a potential trade between Yankees and giants for ellsbury for Cueto ?
Wtf? No.
He’s sneaky bad, if there is such a thing. He’ll walk a tight rope and get out of it a couple times. As soon as you start to trust him again, he gets lit up.
Tigers should give Cole a shot….cause why not
And who should they waive to make room for him?
He’s terrible, Indians saved their fans a lot of headaches with this move
A J Cole
BAY BAY!!!!