TAMPA, Fla. -- Gerrit Cole was leaving the Yankees' minor league complex when fans on the sidewalk by the parking lot asked for autographs.
When the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner reached over a bush-lined fence to grab a baseball and pen, a fan asked whether he could capture the honor again this year.
"Would be nice," Cole responded.
New York needs more than Cole to have a successful rotation. The Yankees were 82-80 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Other than Cole, New York starters were 32-46 with a 5.