Gerrit Cole Easily Proved This Postseason He Deserves Biggest Pitcher Contract Ever
By Parker White
Even if Gerrit Cole wasn't part of a 107-win team and didn't reach the postseason, he still would've received a huge contract this winter after winning 20 games, posting a 2.50 ERA and leading all of baseball with 326 strikeouts. There's no doubt about it.
However, he's been just as dominant in October, making five postseason starts and posting a 1.72 ERA with 47 strikeouts over 36.2 innings. This Includes a Game 5 start in the World Series, where he went seven strong innings, allowing just one run and striking out nine.
Yeah, Cole is going to get paid huge money and he undoubtedly deserves the largest contract in MLB history for a pitcher.
On Cole: Some fans say, “I would never give a pitcher more than four years.” Teams, of course, feel the same way. But top starters routinely get seven years. Cole will want at least that in free agency, and an eighth year might be a separator. Column: https://t.co/kF8Z2dCCVw
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 28, 2019
As it stands, Boston's David Price has the largest contract for a pitcher at $217 million, and Cole's teammate Zack Greinke has the largest average annual salary for a pitcher at $34.4 million (only Mike Trout has a larger AAV among all players).
The Giants, Angels, Padres and Yankees are all expected to be in on Cy Young contender Gerrit Cole this free agency.
— Bleacher Report MLB (@BR_MLB) October 15, 2019
"[Bryce] Harper money? [Manny] Machado money? It’s going to be interesting." ? https://t.co/8tFaHjo0u3 pic.twitter.com/dZDx9zXAwS
At 29 years old, Cole is the best pitcher in the game right now, and he had a career year at the perfect time, as he'll be entering the free agent market this winter. With teams like the Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, among other teams, bidding for his services, the price tag will be astronomical and he'll deserve every penny.
Hell, he might be the first pitcher to make $40 million a year.