Gerrit Cole to Yankees - 9 years / $324 million

[Eye Black]

Per Jeff Passan:

 

BREAKING: Right-hander Gerrit Cole is in agreement on a deal with the New York Yankees, sources tell ESPN.

 

Cole to Yankees for nine years and $324 million

 

Edit: The deal includes an opt out after the 2024 season.

[homer]

Per Heyman

[Eye Black]

A $36 million AAV doesn’t seem out of line with his talent, but obviously nine years is a long time.

[Warning Track Power]

How gross. Why do teams like the Brewers even exist.

[Eye Black]

How gross. Why do teams like the Brewers even exist.

It is sort of amazing to think during the life of that contract he may make nearly the same amount as what three seasons worth of the entire Brewers roster will get paid.

[wallus]

2nd place in free agent bidding again, dangit.

[bigredrobbo]

Missed it by THAT much!

[Eye Black]

2nd place in free agent bidding again, dangit.

Yep, the front office likely wasn’t willing to budge from their $320 million valuation on Cole.

[Fear The Chorizo]

That is absurd

[Eye Black]

Some fun math per this Tweet...

 

Gerrit Cole on average will make:

 

- $36mil per season

- $1.09mil per start

- $170k per inning

- $10.7k per pitch

[owbc]

I think I’m cool taking a pass on the 2020 season. We can shop next year when everyone else is out of money.

[DHonks]

Last time they outbid us 1 year and $60 million or so for Sabathia. This time it’s probably 5 years and $224 million. Man, that’s tough to lose again

[RollieTime]

That’s a lot of dollar bills... Good for him. If he dips at all in his performance, that is going to be one long contract. If anybody deserves a contract like this though, it’s Gerrit Cole. His numbers are absolutely absurd.

[TJseven7]

O.O

 

You know what, forget it. I'm that type of nut job that wants both hands tied behind my back anyway. Makes the victory sweeter.

 

We have a good team and we might not have the biggest bankroll but who cares... run the team wisely and let's get 1. It pathetic to spend like the Cubs and only get 1. With an imbalance like this MKE should never get one statistically speaking. Let's just earn 1.

[JimH5]

At least he's not on the Cubs or Cardinals.

 

The Brewers aren't alone in being unable/unwilling to sign him. Most teams are out of the market for the top free agents. Anthony Rendon isn't coming here, either.

 

My worry with all of these high priced deals is that they might also be priced out on Bumgarner, Ryu and Keuchel, too. Then they're left cobbling together Gio and Tanner Roark and other Suppans and Garzas.

[pacopete4]

Monopoly money.

[paul253]

We don’t need a salary cap. The luxury tax works in the same way. Right?

[A Swing and A Drive]

What’s crazy is that Cole had an absurd 2019 season but prior to that he was a very inconsistent pitcher, so much that I wouldn’t have even considered him a true Ace, especially during his Pirates years.

 

And the trade return the Pirates received for Cole seems even more comically bad now.

 

My Goodness.

[pacopete4]

I never root for injuries but when I see these insane deals that the Brewers just cannot compete with and make it, it's hard not to hope these deals absolutely blow up for whoever makes them.

[MrTPlush]

This is what happens when you hit free agency and the deal starts in your 20s. Great deal if he ages old Mad Max...if he ages like Price, Yikes.

[A Swing and A Drive]

High time we learn to draft and develop our own Aces.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

High time we learn to draft and develop our own Aces.

 

Exactly. That's the only way a team like the Brewers is going to stand a chance.

 

I'm inclined to maybe sign one back-end starter like Gio or Miley, and otherwise hope that the crew of Woodruff, Houser, Lauer, Burnes, Peralta and Faria can make a jump. It's time to get a rotation of guys who are going to be around awhile. Those screaming that the Brewers "need" to sign a legit #2 are going to be sorely disappointed in this offseason, I'm afraid.

[TURBO]

High time we learn to draft and develop our own Aces.

 

Which is why we can't afford to trade guys like Small, Ashby, Rasmussen, etc. for offense. We just can't sign the top FA pitchers.

 

We have to develop our own, and that is something we just have never been able to do consistently.

 

I know the Yankees take a lot of the blame for signings like this, however, they are not breaking any rules. This is a MLB issue, not a Yankees issue.

 

It's broken, and needs to be fixed, but that will never be allowed by the player's union, or the large market teams.

 

Basically, we are screwed, now, always and forever.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I never root for injuries but when I see these insane deals that the Brewers just cannot compete with and make it, it's hard not to hope these deals absolutely blow up for whoever makes them.

 

I get what you're saying, but at the same time, Cole has earned this contract with his performance. The players percentage of baseball revenue is shrinking by the year while the owners make a ton of money. If we pay for the product the money is there for these guys to make. I don't begrudge these guys these huge contracts.

 

It sucks that a smaller Market team like the Brewers can't afford a guy like this, but it just kind of is what it is. I certainly don't see wishing injury on a guy just because he's getting paid what the market will pay him. He's got a skill that will let him do something that very few people can do. Good for him.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

What’s crazy is that Cole had an absurd 2019 season but prior to that he was a very inconsistent pitcher, so much that I wouldn’t have even considered him a true Ace, especially during his Pirates years.

 

And the trade return the Pirates received for Cole seems even more comically bad now.

 

My Goodness.

 

I've thought the same thing but never say it out loud.