Gerrit Cole To New York?
Earlier this week I wrote an article titled Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg To New York?
Today though my main focus is on Gerrit Cole who last season was with the Houston Astros and made it all the way to the World Series before losing to the Washington Nationals whom Stephen Strasburg pitched for.
As a starter in Houston in 2019 Gerrit Cole had a record of 20-5 with an earn run average of 2.50. “according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/32081/gerrit-cole
Could the right -hander who was drafted by the team that wears pinstripes in 2008 before he decided to go to UCLA be in pinstripes in 2020?
The New York Yankees have made signing right-hander Gerrit Cole their clear offseason priority and have ownership-level approval to offer him a record-setting deal, sources familiar with their plans told ESPN. “according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28233222/sources-yankees-make-signing-righty-gerrit-cole-top-offseason-priority
While the expectation going into the offseason was that negotiations with Cole could stretch into January, the clear willingness of teams to engage in high-year, high-dollar deals could ratchet up the timetable, according to sources. Cole's agent, Scott Boras, has yet to solicit offers, but the teams' recognition of Cole's value and understanding of multiple motivated buyers could have an expeditious effect, sources said.”according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28233222/sources-yankees-make-signing-righty-gerrit-cole-top-offseason-priority
The Yankees' willingness to play in that financial range signals a shift from recent years, in which they have avoided big-money free-agent signings. Their last nine-figure commitment to a free agent was to pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, on whom they spent $175 million in January 2014; he is entering the final year of his deal. In December 2017, New York traded for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and assumed $265 million of the $295 million left on his contract.”according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28233222/sources-yankees-make-signing-righty-gerrit-cole-top-offseason-priority
The commitment from owner Hal Steinbrenner to pursue Cole has emboldened the Yankees, who sent general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, pitching coach Matt Blake and longtime Yankees star Andy Pettitte to their meeting in California. The attention paid by New York to embracing modern pitching analysis could appeal to Cole, whose thirst for knowledge and intelligence are among the qualities teams appreciate about him the most, according to sources.”according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28233222/sources-yankees-make-signing-righty-gerrit-cole-top-offseason-priority
Though the Yankees have prioritized signing Cole, they have not ruled out pursuing Strasburg, the reigning World Series MVP who is also being pursued by the Washington Nationals and Dodgers. Strasburg opted out of the four years and $100 million left on his contract with the Nationals and is expected to receive a deal of at least $180 million. “according to https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28233222/sources-yankees-make-signing-righty-gerrit-cole-top-offseason-priority