MLB Execs Think Gerrit Cole Won't Get $300 Million Deal in ESPN Survey

The MLB winter meetings are just around the corner, and the most talked about name in free agency is AL Cy Young runner up Gerrit Cole. After a dominant six-month stretch with the Houston Astros this past season, the right-handed pitcher is looking to cash in big time on the open market.

While he and his agent Scott Boras are asking for an annual salary of $40 million, the real question is if he'll get a contract that eclipses $300 million.

ESPN asked 15 anonymous MLB executives and insiders if Cole will get the $300 million. Nine voters said he'd get "close but under" and six said "no chance."

Those surveyed didn't say Cole wasn't worth the money. They did, however, say it's mostly because pitchers normally aren't valued at that asking price. Case in point, the pitcher who has the most lucrative deal in history is Boston Red Sox lefty David Price at $217 million, who hasn't exactly lived up to the big money in his bank account.

Yet, this past season proved that you need stud pitching in the starting rotation to reach the World Series. The Astros had Cole, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke, while the Washington Nationals boasted Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin.

Cole is receiving interest from many ends, like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. Those surveyed, however, believe that Cole will end up joining the Los Angeles Angels.

While the consensus here is Cole won't get a $300 million contract, they do think he'll break the record for most lucrative deal for a pitcher.