People generally learn the most valuable life lessons from situations mirroring what's going on in other people's lives. Perspective on what to do (or not do) is invaluable when weighing various decisions. As the Yankees anxiously await the results of an MRI on Gerrit Cole's elbow, MLB teams should take note and think twice before signing pitchers over the age of 30 to massive contracts.
Somewhere, former Cy Young winner Blake Snell -- who somehow remains a free agent with Opening Day almost two weeks away -- is furiously biting his nails, wondering how the disconcerting news on Cole will impact a potential new contract. Snell's gamble to hold out for the best possible deal this past winter was undoubtedly influenced by his agent, Scott Boras, and now their pickiness could backfire.
The 31-year-old Snell still has plenty of good pitching left in his left arm, so it seems, but it's impossible to ignore the huge risk factor involved with power pitchers after Cole's recent scare. Contextually, Snell may be the first pitcher to feel the impact.
A 33-year-old veteran in Zack Wheeler was wise to stay ahead by signing an extension with the Phillies this March, given the high potential for injury that could deplete his value, and how the market could be altered by other arms landing on the injured list. Having thrown 558 innings over the last two years, which includes tying a career high for starts (32) twice, Snell appears to be the largest beneficiary of the recent news.
Overreacting before MRI results are revealed is foolish. Multiple reports have indicated the Yankees are being precautious with their prized ace, more than anything else. So this could be another example of much ado about nothing, now that the seed is planted in fans' brains that the veteran pitcher could be the next one to suffer a scare yielding doomsday results.
Similar to how one may suspect cheating in a relationship when their partner is being too close for comfort with someone else, teams will have additional difficulty ignoring downsides. Closely vetting medicals could be one change that comes about as a direct result of Cole's experience. It also provides a bit of bargaining leverage, as front offices have the history to prove that pitchers aren't as valuable as they get older.
March 11 will always be remembered as a cursed day -- it was when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic. For fans and pitchers, specifically, it could carry a whole new meaning and level of significance as a watershed moment, where general managers realized older pitchers weren't as important to their teams.
Similar to how NFL running backs can't command big paydays due to a large supply and the massive toll their position puts on the body, starting pitchers could be viewed as disposable pieces. Bad news for Corbin Burnes, Shane Bieber, and Max Fried, who're all set to hit free agency next offseason.
One would've theorized that MLB already adjusted the goalposts for pitcher contracts after Jacob DeGrom suffered his second torn UCL last season, all while Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Rodon struggled to remain healthy. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will surely have hesitations about opening up the checkbook for such a player, given the recent results, even while his focus has shifted toward keeping his job in the meantime.
With a lack of quality pitching across MLB, teams are still willing to gamble on a player's health to reap the benefits of his upside. The one-eyed man is king in the land of the blind, and pitchers still have that upper hand, in that regard. A quick glance at what's occurred to most starting pitchers as they approach their mid-30s tells a more cautionary tale. Whether or not the league decides to alter its approach is entirely up to them, but they should consider it.
Then again, a lack of talent in bullpens and the backend of rotations is what's created this problem in the first place. Aces are counted on to throw more in high-stress situations, and deep into ball games. Until talent development on the mound improves, inflation of pitcher contracts -- and that high perceived value -- will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. The career-altering nature of pitchers' injuries should be enough to raise red flags, but evidently, it hasn't.
Similar to a stuntman who repeatedly lives life on the edge with daring tricks, teams will find themselves in a tough predicament when it comes to signing quality starting pitching. If all goes right, they're the hero. But, when a move backfires, they're the goat. So after seeing another top-end pitcher like Cole make headlines due to concerns of a potential devastating injury, those wise enough should carefully review each trick before attempting to perform it.