The New York Yankees have met with Gerrit Cole this week where no money was discussed but they made it clear that “the money will be there.” Hal Steinbrenner has already given Brian Cashman and the front office to set a record deal to land him and Cole knows that a big contract is on the way.
Other than the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Anaheim Angels are in the mix of teams that are pursuing Cole heavily. It’s expected that this week every team that is interested in him is going to be making their offers.
I fully expect the Yankees to be offering anywhere from $240 million and up. The Yankees have historically not signed a pitcher to a deal longer than seven years, but if Cole is looking for eight years, you give it to him. He is the top-tier level of free-agent pitchers and if the Yankees want to make a big power move, they’ll need to do whatever they can to land him. If Cole ends up somewhere else but the Yankees offered everything he wants, so be it. But if the Yankees are lacking something another team is offering, that just can’t happen.
Signing Cole wouldn’t just help the Yankees win number 28 next year, but they’ll be high favorites for the next several years. Think of Cole as an investment to win a number of World Series during the ’20s. After not appearing in a World Series this last decade, it’s turning into must-win years for the Yankees.