Stephen Strasburg Contract With Nationals Definitely Complicates Gerrit Cole Sweepstakes
By Michael Luciano
Free agency's first big domino fell when the Washington Nationals agreed to a seismic deal to keep Stephen Strasburg in the nation's capital. The reigning World Series MVP inked a seven-year, $245 million contract to remain with the defending champions.
No one, even the staunchest of Nationals fans, was more elated with this deal than free agent starter Gerrit Cole, who is currently in talks with the Yankees, Angels, and Dodgers about a potential contract of his own.
Stephen Strasburg’s deal with the Washington Nationals is for seven years and $245 million, a source tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 9, 2019
The market has been set, and any potential offer for Cole's services could reach as much as $300 million.
Cole, who came in second in Cy Young voting after winning 20 games, posting a 2.50 ERA, and striking out an absurd 326 batters, figured to earn somewhere in the $250 million range before Strasburg's contract, but now Cole will be in line for an even larger deal.
I also wonder if we should be looking at the actual "value" of this deal by dividing $245M into 7.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) December 9, 2019
Strasburg was already guaranteed 4 years, $100M before he opted out. So he actually got 3 years, $145 M out of the opt-out.
That comes to $48.333M a year. How bout that AAV! https://t.co/SblA7h5mTa
Cole already figured to get the biggest deal a starting pitcher has ever received up until this point, but he has to be thrilled with Strasburg's astronomical deal, as it means it'll take a comically large offer to convince him to sign.
Strasburg now holds the record for the largest contract ever given to a pitcher, but that achievement won't last long. Whenever Cole does sign, expect his contract to absolutely shatter the new record.