Gerrit Cole Reportedly Won't Sign Free Agent Deal Until January
By Chris Russo
As if the suspense was not killing baseball fans already, Gerrit Cole reportedly won't make a free agent decision anytime soon.
Cole reportedly will not sign with an MLB team until at least January of 2020.
Report: Gerrit Cole won't sign until January https://t.co/LnQwL5xic3
— Rotoworld Baseball (@Rotoworld_BB) November 12, 2019
Cole has been linked to a number of teams, including the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the New York Yankees, and even a Houston Astros return.
Yankees interest in Gerrit Cole was confirmed here at the GM meetings by Brian Cashman. The Yankees have concerns Cole prefers his native California but that won’t discourage them from trying for him for a 3rd time (2008 draft, trade market 2 years ago)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 12, 2019
California seems a likely target for a number of reasons.
First off, Cole grew up in Newport Beach, just outside Los Angeles, and graduated from UCLA. Secondly, Cole met his wife, Amy, at UCLA. Plus, Amy is not only a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, but her brother is Brandon Crawford, shortstop for the San Francisco Giants.
With Cole expected to make $300 million on his next contract, Houston is a less likely option. Besides the tension between Cole and manager AJ Hinch over the latter's handling of Game 7 of the World Series, he also seems less likely to return because of Houston's recent meetings.
Astros, who have long liked Zack Wheeler, met today with his agents BB Abbott, Andrew Lowenthal and others from Jet Sports. Wheeler’s robust market likely enhanced by big postseason for teams with great starters (Nats, Astros — who may lose Cole — etc.)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 12, 2019
Cole will keep fans' hearts from pounding until the new year, but they now know when to expect his decision.