A.J. Cole

Late Monday it was announced that the Washington Nationals had traded right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole to the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations.  Cole was out of minor league options heading into this season, which when coupled with his nightmarish start to 2018, forced the team to designate him for assignment last Friday.  Now the 26-year-old will look to rejuvenate his career in the Bronx.

Cole had an interesting journey with the Nationals, as he was Washington’s 4^th round pick in 2010 and signed for an over-slot $2 million bonus.  About 18 months later Cole was a key piece in Washington’s acquisition of Gio Gonzalez from Oakland, only to be reacquired by the Nationals 13 months later in the Mike Morse 3-team trade with Seattle and the Athletics.  He pitched well in 2013 and 2014, rising through the minor league system and finding himself included on several Top-100 prospect lists.

Unfortunately Cole has battled inconsistency since 2015, showing flashes at both Triple-A and the major league level but never able to sustain his success.  Cole has a strong changeup and impressive fastball velocity, but his below-average command and below-average breaking pitches cause him to allow too many walks and too many home runs.  New York will now gamble that a change of scenery will allow Cole’s talent to blossom, but now in his mid-20s, time is running short if he is to become a productive major leaguer.
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When I saw the news that the Yankees had acquired Cole, I momentarily felt bad for him, as I felt like the best opportunity for him would be on a team lacking pitching and expected to compete for the #1 overall pick, not the World Series.  However, for a long time I have wondered if Cole should incorporate a cutter into his repertoire at the expense of his slider and curveball – both his present breaking pitches are loopy and look drastically different from his fastball and changeup.  Perhaps going to a harder, shorter-breaking cutter could more closely mimic his other offerings and deceive hitters.  The Yankees have done well teaching the cutter to other pitchers in recent memory, and could want to tinker with his arsenal. This alteration might force him permanently into the bullpen, but might be the key to a future in the majors.

Overall I am still pessimistic that the Yankees are the right fit for Cole in his attempt to establish himself as a major league pitcher, but I do fear he will be another in a long line of young arms who leave the Nationals’ organization and find success elsewhere.  I am not sure the Nationals did anything “wrong” in this process, but receiving cash considerations for a once highly-acclaimed prospect feels like a disappointing end to Cole’s career in Washington.

Wednesday evening the weary Washington Nationals bullpen suffered a collapse and got smoked like a Willie Nelson “cigarette”, to the tune of 9 runs in the 8^th inning.  The dagger came when AJ Cole, now pitching in relief after losing the 5^th starter role to Jeremy Hellickson, served up a mammoth grand slam home run to Yoenis Cespedes.  This elevated his ERA this season to 13.06 and left many Nationals’ fans, myself included, wondering what the next step is for AJ Cole’s career in Washington.

Cole does not have any minor league options remaining, meaning the Nationals would have to expose him to waivers before sending him to the minor leagues, where he would likely be claimed by another team.  This leaves Washington’s front office in a difficult spot, as Cole needs work in the minor leagues to refine his mechanics and regain his confidence, yet they do not wish to lose him for nothing.

For the record, I have probably been Cole’s biggest fan in NatsTown the past several years, as I watched him in high school and imagined his projectable frame and intriguing 4-pitch repertoire developing into a mid-rotation quality starting pitcher.  While raw like sushi, the 18-year-old Cole possessed a low-90s sinking fastball, a promising changeup and the ability to spin a breaking ball.

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Today the 26-year-old Cole still has those attributes, but has not been able to improve the consistency of his breaking pitches, nor his fastball command.  This leaves him susceptible to plenty of walks and lengthy home runs.  However, when he finds his groove, as he did against Atlanta earlier this month and in 52 innings last year, Cole has major league quality stuff and can get major league hitters out.  Other major league teams have certainly taken notice of this, and would be foolish not to claim him, gambling that a change of scenery could unlock his potential.

Considering the number of teams actively “rebuilding” this year, it would be shocking to see Cole go unclaimed through waivers, as clubs always need extra pitching during the season.  It would not surprise me to see the White Sox claim him and allow noted pitching guru Don Cooper the opportunity to work with him.  Perhaps the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitching coach Ray Searage might want the chance to revamp his repertoire to improve his performance.  Or could Tampa Bay attempt to work their magic on another talented, yet inconsistent young pitcher.

Unfortunately due to his poor start to the season, roster limitations and the team’s goal of winning in 2018, it feels like AJ Cole’s time as a Washington National is rapidly coming to a close.  I fear Cole will emerge in a new situation and become a productive major league pitcher, a habit Washington has recently developed.  Just in the past two years, the Nationals have traded inconsistent young pitchers like Felipe (Rivero) Vazquez, Nick Pivetta and Blake Treinen, only to see them establish themselves for other teams.  Circumstances have boxed the team into a corner, but I predict a Change of Scenery will make AJ Cole the latest pitcher Washington wishes they had kept in the organization.

*Originally published at MASNSports.com on 4/20/18*