Yankees Could Offer Free Agent Gerrit Cole Deal Worth ‘Well Beyond $250 Million’

The New York Yankees’ ownership is allowing General Manager Brian Cashman to offer former Houston Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole a massive, multi-year deal.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the news and added that MLB executives told him the value of Cole’s contract could “reach well beyond $250 million-plus.”

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Cole has been a thorn in the Yankees’ side since clashing with New York in the playoffs the last two years. Yankees fans will have Game 3 of the ALCS burned into their memory as Cole took control of the evening with dominant pitching. The top pitcher in this year’s free agency period stole the show striking out seven, allowing only four hits and no runs scored through seven innings of work.

The Yankees main weakness for the last few years has been consistency in the pitching rotation. Now, more than ever, they need to sign a star-caliber starting pitcher like Cole. Aside from James Paxton and Masihiro Tanaka the other starting pitchers have failed to carry their weight. Luis Severino played just five games total including the postseason in 2019 after injuring his shoulder, then suffering from a latissimus dorsi injury.

Crazy enough, the Yankees actually drafted Cole in 2008, but he chose to pitch in college at UCLA. When he graduated and entered the draft in 2011, he was the first pick overall selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The question that remains is whether or not he wants to be a Yankee and play in New York. Players know about the stigma that “not everyone can handle the New York media.” But right now there is no record that he has anything against the organization.

The native from Southern California is also garnering interest from the Angels, Dodgers, and Padres. The Yankees, however, have the opportunity to improve their team before the rookie contracts of Aaron Judge, Gleybur Torres, and Gary Sanchez expire.

Article by Frank DeLorenzo

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