11-year wait for Cole

hand what Oppenheimer and his scouts were talking about in Cole’s first five seasons in the big leagues.

Cole was 59-42 with a 3.50 ERA in five years with the Pirates, but his potential was off the charts. Cashman tried to acquire Cole from Pittsburgh. Instead the Pirates sent Cole to Houston, where watching the righthander’s development hurt even more. He increased the usage of his four-seam fastball and curveball. He learned how to attack the top of the zone and became dominant. He went 15-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 2018, then 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA and a major league-leading 326 strikeouts last season, finishing second to teammate Justin Verlander in AL Cy Young Award balloting.

“As scouts, we have a lot of time to project where a player will end up. Sometimes, we can over-project,” Oppenheimer said with a selfdeprecating laugh. “We did not over-project on this one.”

As hard as it was to watch Cole dominate with other teams, Oppenheimer was never angry or bitter about it. He thought it was important to maintain a relationship with Cole and his family, because baseball is a small world. You never know what could happen down the road.

“I was representing the Yankees, there’s no anger, I just wanted to make sure we were always professional with them,” Oppenheimer said. “I kept in touch with the family over the years.”

And 11 years and $324 million later, Oppenheimer and Cole were reconnecting this week. They’ve traded texts and voicemails. Finally, on Wednesday morning, Cole will officially put on those pinstripes and Yankees hat.

Oppenheimer, however, will be watching from afar.

“I’ve got work to do,” Oppenehiemer said. ”I’ve got to make sure he is surrounded by good players for the next nine years.”

The hardest part, the waiting, may be over for the Yankees. But for Oppenheimer, the work of the scouts is never over.