Yankees Gerrit Cole ranked No. 3 pitcher in MLB by ‘The Shredder’

As part of MLB Network’s annual positional rankings as tabulated by ‘The Shredder,’ Yankees offseason acquisition Gerrit Cole is listed as the No. 3 pitcher in baseball.

Everyone has a list or ranking system of which major leaguers they believe are within the top 10 players at their respective positions. So when it comes to pitchers, we want to know where the Yankees are?

MLB Network uses a tool called ‘The Shredder,’ which compiles both analytical and subjective data without human influence. Therefore, going off of the 2019 season, ‘The Shredder’ makes sense placing CY Young winners, Jacob deGrom and Justin Verlander, one and two, respectively.

However, what this computer program doesn’t account for is the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that has riled up most of the offensive competition Verlander will face in 2020.

Verlander also didn’t help himself when at the recent New York BBWAA dinner where he accepted his second CY Young award — he joked about the Astros, saying, “As everybody knows, they’re very technologically and analytically advanced.”

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A smattering of boos and uncomfortable laughs from those in attendance prove just how out of touch Verlander is about what transpired in 2017.

For a pitcher entering the twilight of his career, Verlander will certainly get the very best from whoever enters the batter’s box — 60 feet, 6 inches away.

Entering his age-37 season, Baseball Reference projects Verlander to compile a 15-7 record, 3.12 ERA, 0.995 WHIP, and 238:37 K:BB ratio across 193 innings. Verlander was ranked No. 5 last spring.

As for deGrom, who received 4.16 run support per game from the Mets in ’19, resulting in only 11 wins, looks prepared to offer the same level of production according to BA. Entering his age-32 season: 10-8, 2.80 ERA, 1.066 WHIP, and 219:47 K:BB ratio in 183 innings. deGrom jumped two spots from ‘The Shredders’ previous preseason list.

Listed as the new No. 3 is the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history, Gerrit Cole. At 29, Cole is coming off a major league-best 185 ERA+, 326 strikeouts, 13.8 K/9 — and AL-best 2.50 ERA, and 2.64 FIP.

Cole’s official debut on ‘The Shredder,’ BA projects him to compile a 14-6 record, 3.24 ERA, 1.065 WHIP, and 247:53 K:BB ratio across 186 innings. While I contend that 14 wins seem a bit light, perhaps the computer is taking into account Cole’s new home field as a reason why.

‘The Shredder’ lists Max Scherzer, Hyun-jin Ryu, Zack Greinke, Jack Flaherty, Patrick Corbin, Mike Clevinger and Walker Buehler to round out the top 10 pitchers in baseball.