Gerrit Cole UCLA Bound?

UPDATE MONDAY 11:34 AM :

There seems to be a lot of [understandable] confusion regarding Gerrit Cole's decision to attend college and consequently turn down a multi-million dollar deal with the New York Yankees. I'm pretty confused myself. But, I have been hearing a lot of people discuss the topic with the misconception that the failed signing has, in any way, to do with the efforts of Brian Cashman.

I just sent an email explaining this to my brother and this is what I said:

This falls solely on Cole [and/or his dad]..

As you probably know, the baseball draft is an entirely different animal than the NBA or NFL drafts. In baseball, kids can get drafted out of HS [like Cole], but they can choose to go to college instead [like Cole]. However, the top prep players make sure their advisors inform clubs what the player plans to do in regards to the draft.

For example, Alex Meyer is a beast RHP coming out of High School - he made it abundently clear that he would be attending Kentucky U. next year so teams shouldn't bother picking him in the draft. The Red Sox picked him in the 20th round hoping a bunch of money might change his mind. It didn't and Meyer turned down $2million to go to college.

Cole, on the other hand, informed everyone that he DID want to pursue a careeer in professional baseball [the minors] and did not plan on attending UCLA - unless of course his financial desires weren't met. Knowing this, the Yankees jumped at the chance to draft Cole, and knew they had the financial might to sign him regardlesss of what outlandish demands Scott Boras made.

Out of nowhere Cole said he wanted to go to school and that no amount of money could sway that fact. Essentially, Cole turned down money which only top-5 picks got [and a chance to pitch for his favorite team] in order to got to school [and a just OK UCLA program].

For me and everyone else who followed the negotiations, this is completely inexplicable. There is no sound reasoning behind this decision except for maybe Cole's desire to be the big man on campus and pick up college chicks. Even so, having $5 or $6 million in the bank would probably get him more than a baseball scholarship. Hope he knows what he's doing, because an arm injury is just one greedy UCLA coach away - considering the overuse top college pitchers often face.

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And the hits just keep on coming, huh?

According to an anonymous source cited by the always reliable Tyler Kepner, 1st round draft pick Gerrit Cole will not sign with the Yankees and instead plans on attending UCLA.

Kepner says that money was not an issue as Cole decided to go to school regardless of what money the Yankees offered.

This, regardless of what Yankees brass say, is a gutpunch considering an 18 year-old with a high-90s fastball and potential plus breaking ball is a rare commodity. It hurts even more considering the underwhelming status of the Yankees 2008 draft - which becomes especially evident without Cole in the fold.

Aside from Brett Marshall, and the probable signing of LHP Anthony Bleich, the Yankees played it safe this draft. Cole was the one piece of the puzzle which had to be had. Unfortunately, Scott Boras probably pushed for the same type of major league deal given to Andrew Brackman, and when he didn't get it, decided to take Cole's electric right arm to college and hope to get a Porcello type deal.

Looks like Mr. Cole wasn't nearly as big a Yankees fan as he led on. Either that or Boras pulled another one of his hypnotist tricks on Gerrit and Papa Cole.

Get Your Gerrit Cole News

Gerrit Cole - a lifelong Yankees fanatic - is pictured left as a youngster holding a sign during the 2001 World Series. Plus Cole was labeled the #1 high school player in the country by PerfectGame Crosscheckers, so how could the Yankees resist.

Here are a few stories from the local Anaheim media including one on his upcoming decision to go pro or collegiate as well as another article describing his final start of the season.

Granted, high school pitching stats are skewed, particularly when you can throw fastballs in the upper 90's, but take a look at Cole's 2008 line: 8-2 record; 0.58 ERA; 75.2 innings; 30 hits; 121 strikeouts; 18 walks.

Finally, here's some video of Cole talking about...Cole.

DRAFT NEWSYanks Select Cole

Not to toot my own horn but I predicted Gerrit Cole would fall to the Yankees a week ago and that they would select him at 28th overall - before Keith Law and John Mayo's mock drafts were published.

This kid needs to refine his slider and changeup - like most prepsters - but already possesses an elite arm that can run fastballs in the upper 90s and touch triple digits. Cole will command a hefty signing bonus but he is a great get at the bottom of the first round.

Keith Law on the Yankees 1st round pick:

This is a great pick; he fell to the Yankees for financial reasons. Cole has the best arm among the prep pitchers in the draft. He has a loose, quick arm. He has the best fastball of the high school pitchers; it tops out 97 mph. He needs more consistency on the breaking ball. And he needs to just throw his changeup instead of guiding it. He's a high-ceiling arm that could be a No. 1 starter. If that doesn't work, he could be a dominant reliever.

And some video.

DRAFT COVERAGEYanks Could Target RHP Cole

The upcoming draft has a handful of top-tier talent. Unfortunately, the majority of these top draft prospects will most likely fall off the board before the Yankees pick at #28. There have been some rumors that Gerrit Cole, the talented California prepster, could slide to the Yankees on draft day. Could this be one time where Scott Boras' greed factor assists the Yankees?

Cole boasts a lightning quick arm that pumps lively fastballs at 93-97 mph as well as a solid slider in the 80's which projects as a plus pitch to go along with a developing changeup. Most reports paint Cole as a strike thrower with all three pitches which is even more impressive considering he is not a collegiate prospect.

How well Cole can command and advance his secondary pitches will dictate whether he is a frontline starter or backend bullpen arm. Either way, as unlikely as it may be, he could end up another high ceiling power pitcher [who touches 100 mph] amongst names like Brackman, Betances, McAllister, etc. If he's there, expect the Yankees to buy Cole out of his UCLA commitment.

From Keith Law's most recent ESPN chat:

Chris: Kennewick,WA: Keith Who do you see the yankees taking with #28? I know they take the best player left on the board, anychance that Gerrit cole is still around?

Keith Law: (1:54 PM ET ) I think they'd take Cole if he reached them, or Hosmer, Crow, or Alvarez if any of them slides that far. What I don't know is what they'll do if all the legit first-rounders with high bonus demands go before them.

Though Cole would be a great get at #28, Yankee fans would have wet dreams about Aaron Crow donning pinstripes.