MLB Executive Believes Gerrit Cole Contract Could Go as High as $280 Million
By Chris Pyo
There will definitely be a team willing to break the bank for Gerrit Cole, who is one of the most coveted starting pitchers on the free agent market in recent years.
But how much will teams actually pay? According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, that number could exceed $280 million over eight years.
How much $$$ will Gerrit Cole rake in when these negotiations are over? One exec predicts $250-280 million for 8 years. More details in my story. https://t.co/vYb5JRWFKV
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 8, 2019
Brian Cashman is holding his breath right now in the Bronx. This is the last thing he needs to hear after reportedly offering Cole a record-breaking seven-year, $245 million contract.
As of right now, it appears that Cole's top suitors are the Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels, and Angels owner Arte Moreno has been known to offer some absurd contracts. Most notably, he was responsible for bringing an aging Albert Pujols to the Angels on a 10-year, $210 million deal, something the Angels are still biting the bullet for, at least in secret.
The #Yankees have clearly established themselves as the favorites to sign Gerrit Cole, rival executives believe. The #Angels are the other finalist. No offer has been submitted by either club but @BobKlap reports the #Yankees are preparing seven-year, $245 million offer
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 8, 2019
If Moreno was willing to offer that amount of money to Pujols, there's no telling what he'll cook up for Cole. Don't be surprised if Moreno counters the Yankees' offer with another 10-year contract offer, with all the money Cole is expecting included in the deal.