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Gerrit Cole 2025 Fantasy Baseball Outlook: Yankees Ace Can Provide SP1 Value At SP2 Cost
7 mins agoAfter missing the first half of the 2024 season with an elbow injury, Gerrit Cole's fantasy stock has dropped. He was still productive when returning to the mound in mid-June and ended the year with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts. Last year was the first time since 2016 that Cole failed to make at least 30 starts in a season (excluding 2020). And there are some concerns about Cole entering 2025. His average fastball velocity (95.9 MPH) dropped for the second consecutive year. And Cole's 3.99 xFIP and 3.79 SIERA in 2024 hint at some ERA regression this year. However, most of the concerns can be attributed to the elbow injury. After his first four starts off the IL, Cole had a 6.75 ERA. From his fifth start until the end of the season, Cole had a 2.67 ERA. Cole also had three starts in August in which his fastball averaged 96.5 MPH or better. With a full Spring to get ready, there's plenty of reason to believe Cole can get back near his best if he stays healthy. Given his track record of success and health, Cole can certainly be a top-10 starting pitcher again in 2025.
