In his time with the Yankees, Cole also has embraced his role as a de facto oracle of pitching for the staff, with veterans and rookies — and just about everyone in between who throw baseballs for a living — making frequent stops at or near his locker in spring training to talk about, as Cole always puts it, “the craft” of pitching.

The Yankees’ advantage, at least on paper, is having four starters with big stuff to face an opposing lineup and potentially protect their bullpen from overuse/overexposure compared to the

With Rizzo and Soto entering free agency, the New York Yankees are in full fire sale mode, but may be willing to cough up for their ace starter.