The Yankees “total focus” remains on reeling in the winter’s big fish: ace starter Gerrit Cole, per MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman. That Cole is a priority for the Yankees is old news, though Heyman’s characterization certainly seems to stake a higher degree of urgency to the Yankees’ intent.
The nostalgic among us can take this opportunity to think fondly of the Yankees of yore, who routinely targeted their man in free agency with this kind of fervor. It’s been a few years since a free agent made this kind of impression on the Yanks, though they attacked the opportunity to trade for James Paxton last offseason with similar drive.
The urgency isn’t shocking coming off 2019, which proved an interesting campaign in New York. Injuries decimated the roster, but the offense never missed a beat no matter who stepped into the void (hello, Gio Urshela). They coasted to 103 wins and a division title, defeated the Minnesota Twins in the playoffs as they are wont to do, only to see the favor repaid in full by the new powerhouse of the day Houston Astros. The Yankees found themselves booted from the playoffs for the third time in the last five seasons by the Astros, making this pursuit of the ex-Astro Cole feel all the more crazy-eyed. That said, there is rarely a free agent with Cole’s pedigree, and if they’re going to channel the ghost of Steinbrenner and go all-in for a free agent, Cole is a worthy target.
Which is, of course, exactly why interest in the right-hander runs so rampant. As Heyman put it, the Yankees “don’t want to be denied” in their pursuit of Cole, but there is no shortage of contenders, including both LA teams, the Rangers, and the Phillies (who are a little crazy-eyed themselves these days). All five clubs have ample cause to pull out all the stops for Cole – on paper, they’re not alone.
Yankees.
That was My Pick.
Has anyone heard if the Yankees have any interest in Cole?
Passan tweeted a couple days ago that ownership has given approval for Cashman to issue a “record contract”, so yes, I’d say there’s interest.
Also, a delegation of Cashman, Boone, Blake, and Pettitte met with Cole on Wednesday
Well that one flew over his head.
Me too, I knew the Angels wouldn’t.
According to Peter Gammons on Twitter it is a done deal and Cole’s sister is looking for apartments In NYC. Welcome to NY Mr. Cole. Let’s get it done!!!
The Yankees will probably announce a press conference Monday. My guess is it’s a front loaded 7 or 8 year deal. As crazy as this sounds it might be worth 35 million per year. Now for Mr. Cole to shave and get a haircut.
If he goes to the yankees , then he will regret it, only going because of the money.
Why would he regret becoming very rich and playing for a team that will probably contend every year of his contract?
Always hated that. I’d almost leave money on the table to take a job that didn’t force me to shave and get a haircut.
If he goes to Yankees at least he has a chance to be on a winning team.
Agree!
Yankees need to get Cole & trade for Josh Bell
No thanks on Bell. Voit is just fine.
The same Voit left off the playoff roster ?
At some point they need a lefty bat in the lineup other than Gardner
The same player that was injured last year. People have poor memories.
Also the Yankees have gotten away from the lefty slugger on purpose. The short porch increases homers by three to five extra per year while the smaller fight field area coupled with the large amount of defensive shiftsreduces production by a lot.
Don’t care much bout the short porch in right
At some point you need balance in the lineup
Voit was left off the playoff roster due to injury
Travis Shaw might not be a bad lefty choice.
I like the Shaw possibility to get him on the cheap. He can play 1b, 2B, 3B. Back to back 30 homer seasons before this year so we know he can hit.
Would rather bring back Didi than have another DJ. That might odd to say but it would be tough to get Shaw at bats. There’s nothing wrong with Voit at 1B. No need to platoon him. And most of his hrs are up the middle or opposite field.
No he wasn’t he was left off because DJ had to play 1st and who in that lineup would be had replaced. Voit is not better than Bell. Voit is really an average at best 1B.
agreed Voit is more than sufficiant and he’s underpaid
Voit is more than reliable, and a bargain with his underpaid salary
Voit is widely mediocre .
Would a Frazier and Voit deal for Bell shock you? Not me.
Not going to happen, but I hope Phillies push hard for Cole. We need more SP
Phillies have no core
You don’t necessarily need a “core” of players that come up together. You just need a good group of players that play well together and for the most part the Phillies have a lot of good pieces, they just also have holes. The have the best all around catcher in the game, they have a true Ace in Aaron Nola, they have an all star caliber right fielder who hits well in the big moments. They have Hoskins, who faded last year but has shown he is a great bat. McCutchen (if he stays healthy) is a great veteran presence at the top of the lineup. Kingery is a great guy to plug in anywhere on the diamond. They have Segura, who had a down year last year but lights a spark on the team if he’s on his A game. They just added wheeler who, if he can stay healthy, is a pretty good number 2. Now imagine adding Cole to that mix and one more bat. The bullpen has some holes but if they’re willing to blow past the luxury tax line this year, they can do it. Cole, or at the very least one more starter, a guy like Betances or Trienen, and maybe 2 bats (DiDi and maybe trade for Marte, or DiDi and grab Donaldson). That’s a pretty solid team. With a manager who knows how to win and can get the best out of these guys, the Nats possibly losing Rendon and/or Strasburg, and the Mets being the Mets, they could be the 2nd best team in that division.
I still put the braves ahead of them in this scenario, and without these moves I still think they are 4th in that division slightly behind The Mets. But wildcard is wide open, considering we don’t know what to expect in the West besides the dodgers, and the cubs could be fading in the central, with the pirates and reds not having proven themselves yet. Still have the brewers and Cards to deal with but still. With a couple of moves and guys returning to form the Phils could make a push.
Cole is either going to LA or the Yankees.
He was a Yankee fan growing up. If hes going to leave LA, its for the Yankees and no one else.
Philly cant offer more money than them, and they don’t have a free pass to october baseball like the Yankees.
I still say the Angels sign him for a ridiculous contract, 7 years, 270.
I agree I think that the Angels will offer him an insane contract, not to mention that no one ever faults and guy for wanting to play at home where most of his and his wife’s family live. A lot of people seem to forget that.
I have seen the picture but the guy grew up with season tickets to the Angels & he was drafted by the Yankees out of high school & didn’t sign. If playin for the yankees was that important he wouldn’t have went to school.
Not sayin he won’t sign with the Yankees but if he does it’s not because he was a fan. It’s because they gave him the most money.
Rendon and Cole are core guys. If you don’t draft them then you have to sign or trade for them.
If Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon aren’t wearing Phillies uniforms in 2020, the Phillies players are headed for the golf course on October 1st.
Cole AND Rendon? Why stop there then? I think they gotta add those two AND Strasburg. If they can’t get those three guys, then they can forget it.
Strasburg is less of a GIMP than Wheeler but that’s money under the bridge and out to sea now.
Give Cole nine years and whatever per and you’ll be smoking a Cuban cigar and blowing smoke rings in year nine.
“I could sign a whole team for what the Yankees paid Babe Ruth” – the Phillies bloodsucking owner at the time.
GERRIT COLE
Just throw money until he says yes.
That Boras driving up the money when we all know he’s going to NY.
I for 1 hope Cole does not go to Yankees! I hope he is in NL.
This is a Scott Boras winter.
That’s what he’s so good at and he gets results for his clients. Obviously he misfired last year with Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel but it was also different market than it currently is.
Kimbrel isn’t a Boras client.
That was his first mistake.
I think it’s the other way around. The Yankees are driving up the price for Boras (and Cole). Until he signs elsewhere, I still see him going to a Southern CA team.
Yankees want Cole, we get it already. Tomorrow’s headline: Yankees really, really, REALLY want Cole.
LOL! It is a rumors site and that’s the rumor…..
Why would Yankees sign Cole there 2020 payroll is already 220 million and would go over 248 million. That a heavy penalty 30 or 40 %, lose international money and draft pick for 2020 MLB draft drop 10 places.
Because the only purpose of signing international players or making draft picks is to win the world series. There is a wide perception that the Yankees are one piece away, and there is a better business case for exceeding the threshold and winning the world series than there is for paying for their core in their primes and continuing to miss the world series.
@larry48
Why would the Yankees sign Cole? They NEED a definitive #1/ace starter, that can give them 200+ innings and 6+ innings most starts. A guy they can count on to be the man, to be the stopper if they skid a little. The luxury tax penalty won’t be that bad, plus they are the damn Yankees.. they can afford it. Dropping 10 spots in the draft when you already draft near the end of the 1st round really isn’t that much of a big deal either, and losing some international bonus pool money isn’t that big of an issue either (especially considering a team can trade for more). Factor all of that in, and add to the fact that both Tanaka AND Paxton are free agents after this coming season (while there’s also a good chance Happ’s option won’t vest.. or there’s even the possibility the Yankees trade Happ to save some money against the cap and make sure they don’t have to worry about his option at all haha) it all adds up to this being a need more than a want. No team wants to face having to potentially replace 3/5 of their starting rotation in 1 offseason. They have a ton of money coming off the books after this season, so there’s a good chance they could get back down to the 1st level of tax or below after this season as well.
Because they can have have the cash, equity and let’s not forget their stake with YES.
Totally agree Larry. They are on the right track and will need money to pay these guys like Judge eventually. They are going to wind up in the same conundrum the Red Sox put themselves in. Tried to win another rather then trading Betts for a haul and starting this a year ago. Now they can’t get value for Betts and have too many other overpaid players. Yankees already have a bunch of question marks. Can Paxton rebound and stay healthy? How’s Severino doing? Is Urshela really a real deal out of nowhere. Can Voit repeat his performance? Can anyone stay healthy? Is Judge going to be ROY Judge or just a really solid hitter w pop who plays RF well. Who is Stanton at this point? They may sign Cole and find they have 2-3 big gaping holes to fill with a payroll that doesn’t leave room to do that AND resign guys like Judge.
The roster is impressive but this team strikes me as a team better off waiting for the trade deadline and going all in then if needed then making a commitment in my opinion too early.
Learn from your rivals. You’re in a great position for a long run. Don’t botch it up now by jumping the gun.
Paxton, Severino and Tanaka were all supposed to be that guy and all are getting paid already. Trust from a Sox fan that tying up $100-150 million in a rotation is a bad idea. It leaves very little room for anything else and they still have Chapman at top dollar as well.
This isn’t as cut and dry as fanboys like to think. There is a business side of this to think about.
Yeah someone is making sure the media gets this out and pounds it into our heads. Espn has posted the same 3-4x this week alone.
Now is the time. Get it done!
Bollocks. Yanks will be scary good for a few years. Can only cross fingers for these contracts to cripple them for a decade after.
Wonder if Yankee Money will make him get a haircut and a shave? Do believe Yankees are Major’s really only team with the standard. Maybe Cole can sway them to ditch the standard like Greg Vaughn did prior to going to Cincinnati? Hmmm.
I don’t recall anyone signing w/ the Yankees that doesn’t follow their rule…MANY many long hair bearded players adjusted to the Yankee way despite “claiming” they wouldn’t ever shave or cut…
The last player that sported facial hair was Don Mattingly and his mustache. A couple of players since have grown out staches but only for a few weeks. I can only recall CC Sabathia, Jason Giambi and Nick Johnson having it.
Stashes are allowed on the yanks. It’s beards and hair below the lip that is not.
He’s gonna be a dodger
Hope hs does sign with Dodgers, I would really like to see Cole, Buehler, and May all throwing 99+..
=
Lol no chance
The only way Cole stays on the West Coast is if he takes a cheaper contract and I think we know that is normally not the Motis opera Randie of our Scott boras clients. Do not be surprised if he signs with the Yankees somewhere in the neighborhood of eight years and 285 million. All Yankees haters need to be realistic when was the last time the New York Yankees missed out on a big free agent they wanted where they were willing to spend whatever it took to get them? I really can’t remember.
Yankees lost out last year when they wouldn’t go 1 more year to 5 years I think. Judge is going to go up about 10 Million per year for the 4 years.
If you mean Corbin it was 6 years.
I may have hapenned since, but they outbid both the Braves and Giants, for Maddox and Bonds. That was in the same off season in the early 90’s. But you are correct, they usually get who they want.
Different times. Yankees were a losing organization in the fall of 92 so the Bronx was undesirable to many. One of the reasons at least.
When was the last time the Dodgers lost out on a pitcher they wanted?
Yankees at $75/mil per season in a classic overpay. 12 year deal. Do it, Yankees! It still won’t put you over the top, but go for it!
Are you a angree person?
angry.
Lol says the man whose team has never been over the top? What a moron.
You’re an angry elf.
I’m hoping Cole chooses his hometown Angels over the evil empire.. but if Arte wants to win, he needs Cole/Stras. Signing both top tier SP is the only way the Angels will be competitive 2020 and beyond.
Get it done Halos!! Your fan base is growing tired of the same bs
He could offer them both Trout contracts. That would do it.
They don’t need both Cole/Strasburg, they do need Cole and another SP…Ryu, Porcello, Roark, Madbum would all be decent upgrades.
So they put all there effort in Cole then he signs with the Angels.
And the Angels would still be outside the playoffs looking in.
Astros finish 3rd in the West next year.
Not happening if JV and Greinke have HV and Greinke years. Team has at least one more top year in it unless the penalty that’s coming prohibits them from the playoffs like the NCAA. Imagine…
JV
Not if they get Cole and one of: Stras, Ryu or Keuchel. That rotation definitely propels then to top of the West imo
Lol at them getting those guys. They’re cheap and even with those starters they’re worse than Oakland and Houston and possibly Texas.
Umm.. Arte is far from cheap, (dumb when it comes to baseball, maybe) they have the funds… plus, Simmons, Pujols, and a few other contracts are coming off the books soon. Lol what?! if they get cole and another top tier SP, with Ohtani/Heaney and Canning/Bundt, that is a freaking SOLID rotation. Best in the West for sure
At least the Yankees won’t have him.
In 1992 the Yankees didn’t get Maddux and Bonds but it worked out just fine.
Jrmom01000
“At least the Yankees won’t have him.”
What will you do if the Yankees do get Cole? Eat your hat online for us all to see? Not a fake meat hat but a real textile or leather hat. Ok? Sound fair for us having to listen to your empty bluster?
Yankees won 106 games without Cole, with Cole they win 104 who cares
@Jrmomo1000 Exactly this. Cole is just using the Yankees to up the Angels’ bid. Whatever they offer the Angels will match and he’s going home.
I think so too hope he goes home
Seeing the Rangers still in on Cole is exciting but I very much doubt we could outbid the Yankees. Unless state taxes do the trick.
This article is poorly written.
Ok professor.
Set up a blog. We’ll come and read it. I promise. Not!
Cole will be an Angel.
Like Corbin was gonna be a yankee last year?
In Eppler’s wet dreams.
As a Yankee fan I do hope they set an upper limit of around $250MM. After that, the Angels can have him. The way Cashman is talking, however, sounds like they might be all in, whatever it takes. Yikes.
6 years, $500M. Guarantee you that gets Cole.
Why stop there, just offer him a Billion.♂️
Cole will bring in over a billion worth of revenue over the next 10 years :)
If Cole is willing to take less years but $38-$40 a year from Dodgers I can see him signing 4-5 year deal but if he wants 7-8 years Dodgers won’t budge.
What is the Angels plan B? They need lots of pitching.
try again next year
As much pitching as the Angels need, I would say Cole should be plan b. If they put all their eggs in that basket, they won’t have enough to get the other pitchers they need to really compete for a playoff run.
rEnT fReE amrite
Oof. Wrong reply. Whoops.
Strasburg, MadBum, Keuchel, etc.
Plan A: Cole OR Strasburg. Plan B: probably sign 1 FA SP not named Cole or Strasburg. I can’t see Eppler actually signing two SP and I’ll be shocked if they offer $240-275m for Cole or $175-200m for Strasburg and get either. I have zero confidence in Eppler WOOing any big free agents. He usually does okay with trades and building the farm, free agents …not so much. We always hear the same old excuses…“we were close” or “we put a competitive offer but…”. Cole will cost at least 6-8yrs 35-38m aav, Stras probably 5-7yrs 30-33m aav. Honestly, I don’t really care what the AAV or final number is, just get it done!
Has to be a new writer here at MLBTR. Written very differently, kind of dark and humorous at the same time.
He usually works nights and weekends. Not sure how new he is…..
I liked it, especially the shot at the Twins.
The question remains: does Gerrit Cole want the Yankees?
The answer is: He wants to get paid.
The way he touted “Team Boras” after the WS makes me agree with you.
He strikes me as the type who will play for the highest bidder. Most players do. I rarely put much stock into any rumors that a guy wants to be closer to home.
If there was any doubt about that, whatsoever, taking off the team hat for a Boras cap minutes after the game ends all doubt
Cole is exactly what they need. Glad they’re finally realizing it instead of stocking up on bats and relievers.
Baseball reporting is east coast/Yankees centric. The Angels are pursuing Cole just as aggressively yet there are no articles about it.
Yeah they sure are . Their big acquisitions last year were Harvey and Cahill, this year Bundy and another scrub. It’s funny how they pretend to be an LA team.
They literally gave $430 million to a single player, you absolute dunderhead.
I don’t think you know what literally means.
“The Angels and star outfielder Mike Trout are reportedly finalizing a 12-year contract extension worth more than $430 million, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.”
I think “literally” is the right word there, Smuckers.
Gotta love the press always pressing their big babies Yankees.
“big babies Yankees”.
Was that your attempt at English?
The yankees will get coal. In their stockings. The three words that describe their franchise are as follows and I quote: Stink, Stank, Stunk.
The 9-yr-old Yankee hater shows up. How cute.
@whyhayzee
Okkkk there Thurl Ravenscroft lolol
Another angry elf.
I am not a Yankees fan at all, but I’m willing to bet there’s about two dozen MLB franchises who wish they stunk as much as the current Yankees.
Boras mouthpiece Heyman doing all he can to boost the bidding. He might be right here, but his being a hack is so transparent and beyond dispute.
Love seeing all the Yankee haters on here. Must suck to live with a huge inferiority complex. Lol
Highest I’d go is 7-yrs/235 million. He’s excellent and you always overpay for free agents, but he’s still only 1 pitcher. If $235 million doesn’t get it done, c’est la vie.
I also have to take umbrage at the author saying the Astros did to the Yankees what NY did to the Twins. The Yankees mauled the Twins. Yes, the Astros beat the Yankees, but NY had every opportunity to win that series and fell a few hit short.
And the Yankees didn’t cheat.
The Yankees have always cheated probably because something like the NY mafia infiltrated the umpires union like 30 years ago, and ever since they’ve always gotten calls up until very recently due probably to social media making things too hot, (the Judge strike zone thing is sheer incompetence tho), but watching old WS’s they were in is super obvious as to whats going on. Jeremy Giambi was obviously safe, but the call goes to the Yankees, every. single. time.
Judge thing is funny because for the first time the Yankees are actually getting screwed by umpires…welcome to how all your opponents feel playing you the last 30 years!
@StrikeFour
Hahaha… what are you even talking about?
You don’t get out much, do you?
You do realize how easy it is to Google the Giambi play and see that he’s out, right?
The mafia? That’s a new one, but a thought I find absolutely fascinating. You must be a hoot in person. The Yankees won 74 games in ‘89, followed that up with 67 wins the following year. In 1991 they won a whopping 71 – that mafia is something else! In 1992 they won 76! Clearly they had mafia assistance. They couldn’t possibly be 70+ under .500 without them.
The Yankees lost in devastating style to the Mariners in ‘95, Diamondbacks in ‘01, Red Sox in ‘04, and to a lesser extent the Indians in ‘97. They do lose.
They’ve won one World Series the past 19 seasons. Do you even know how the mafia works? You think that is their success rate? It’s not.
You further state that things have changed recently because of social media, so now they can’t get the same preferential treatment (with the mobs help). They’ve won 204 games the past two seasons – shouldn’t the opposite be happening?
Umpires make bad calls. In ‘96 there should have been fan interference on Jeter’s HR. Knoblauch did not tag that Indian in ‘98. I’ll be the first to agree they got those were bad calls. But that’s not the mob, those are mistakes. Was the mob also involved with the Marlins when Livan K’ed 15 Braves in the giant strike zone playoff game? Or when Galarraga lost his no hitter on a ground out? Or when Santana got the Mets first no-hitter on Beltran’s double?
There have been other bizarre comments on here in my 5 or so years, but you, you just won first place. And there is no one close. The mafia, that’s something.
Don’t mind Strike Four, he wasn’t loved as a child. He’s one of the 1st people I’d block if this site ever introduced that feature.
Also Yankees haters makes being a Yankees fan all the more enjoyable. Especially Boston fans. Even when they win they still can’t quit thinking about the Yankees.
Exactly right. I grew up with BoSox fans and they are just OBSESSED with the New York Yankees. Hate, hate, hate 24/7. Yankees fans in general could care less about the Sox…
My experience is it goes both ways.
I think back in earlier generations, yankees always had top payroll in baseball, and reeled of a championship (or string of them) every couple years. That led to the typical hate for the team that always seems to have your number or hold you down.
The last 2 decades or so, I’ve seen a lot of younger yankees fans have that similar hatred and obsession with boston – kind of like you can’t mention the word Ortiz without droves complaining steroids even though he never was caught using unlike the other dozen or so yankees and red sox players who were in the same period.
soxfan.. notice on this site when there is a Yankees article, Boston fans are trolling all over it. When there’s a Boston article, rarely a Yankees fan to be found.
Even when Boston won the WS a couple years ago, even Alex Cora couldn’t keep from talking about the Yankees during the parade.
I dunno, I think it depends on the article.
I will say yankees are more active with high-impact rumors this offseason, but in general, I feel I’ve seen a few trolls both sides.
There’s one sox “fan” and I use quotes because sometimes I question the baseball knowledge, that I do think seems to troll your articles a bit heavy though.
Many sox articles this offseason are useless – oh, our new gm dfa/nontenders a pair of aaaa upside guys and resigns them… oh, we trade a low end catcher for a bucket of spit… not worthy of trolling.
Now, if the RS did something controversial or more newsworthy, I bet you’d see more activity.
Just my observation though, your mileage may vary
Joe Says
NAILED IT.
AtlSoxFan
It does not go not go both ways. Not even close. Joe Says’ comment about articles posted here on MLBTR nails it. NYY fans rarely say boo–not a negative word–when a Boston article is posted. Boston fans troll every Yankee article (though I think my counter-arguments are working to dampen them a bit). And this has always been my experience with BoSox fans. Since I was 9 to this day. They are always making negative NYY comments whenever baseball comes up.
Yankee fan has Red Sox in their heads… LOL Must be rough only having 1 championship in 19 years. What’s that like?
Thread talking about Yankees coming close to signing the top free agent… Yankee fans talking about the Red Sox. LOL
Speaking of sad little sox trolls.
You were speaking of sox trolls… in a thread devoted to the Yankees trying to signing a free agent. Red Sox are living in your head. LOL
Coming from his camp to gets the Angels price up because it’s where he wants to be.
agreed
Nope. He has no geographical preference, he says so himself. Besides who wants to go to a fake LA team with a horrible track record of failure.
If Im cole , Im staying out west. Angels will outbid the evil empire for him.
Cole won’t go to angles, Cole wants to play in the postseason. With or without Cole the angles won’t make playoff for 3 yers.
If they add Cole with another starter like Keuchel or Bumgarner then they will have something to say about it. He’s better off going to the angels, He would get rocked in the al east. Angels offer 6-7 years 250-260. I don’t see the yankees going over 250 for him
@angelsfan4life412
Cole would get rocked in the AL East? Get out of here with that nonsense…
nothing but small parks in that division , he goes out west nothing but pitchers parks.
He might go to the angles for the right price. Am I being too obtuse?
Haha!
Going to the Angels, sorry Yankee fans. You can always try for Strasburg!!!
Only way he goes to LAA is if he gets offered like $275MM. Otherwise, he wants to play on a team in constant win now mode.
Angels are gonna be in win-now mode. Imo they need cole the most of all teams that need an ace, The angels have no ace period, the yankees atleast have tanaka • severino • and paxton. If the angels offer 6-7 years 250-270 , no way cashman goes over 250.
Why wouldn’t Cashman go over $250m? The Yankees have $$$ coming off the books in a year or two, just like the Angels. As an Angels fan I could see the Yankees spending into the tier 3 ($248m) tax for a season before the Angels even consider tier 1 tax at $208m.
Yankees lost out last year when they wouldn’t go 1 more year to 5 years I think. Judge is going to go up about 10 Million per year for the 4 years.
@larry48
The Yankees really weren’t all in on Corbin, and they made it clear early on apparently. They told Corbin’s representatives that they weren’t going to go past 5 years for him (the Phillies were in the same boat), and the Nationals had to guarantee him that 6th year to sign him. It worked out for them as he definitely played a big part in helping them win the World Series. The Yankees also didn’t go to Corbin, they had him come to them (again, just showed they liked the player but ONLY on their terms). Corbin though, is NOT Cole. I’m not even trying to down talk Corbin, he’s a really good pitcher (#2/#3 without a doubt), but Cole is 1 of the top 5 starters in MLB right now, they aren’t comparable. Cashman and company going to Cole shows exactly how all in they are.
NYY built a solid farm and generate more than enough revenue to offset the dreaded Luxury Tax
Offer Cole & Stras 5 years @ 35M/year w/6th Triggering Option; then extend Judge & Torres
Luxury Tax hit?
No question
“Evil Empire” whining?
Inevitable under any circumstance
Fielding the best team possible?
Should be inherent & tantamount
As they say:
Scared Money Don’t Make Money
Neither guy is gonna want a 5 year deal when 7 or 8 are attainable. 35m isn’t enough of an overpay for cole to do that.
I really think he’s looking at 33-35 @ 8 years being the long-term discount, Boras is going to point to the sale/price deals as part of his pricing strategy.
Cole is a better investments than either of those were.
It probably takes a 270+m deal to get it done, the only question is, can cole find a couple overzealous bidders to push neat 300m? (I hope not)
I probably might die from laughter if Cole doesn’t go to the Yankees now all the hyperbole about their interest is being rolled out – just in case I stop posting, that’s the reason. Christmas is now whatever day the Yankees lose out on him lol
You eat a piece of coal online if they do get Cole. That will be a fair exchange for being wrong with your Yankee hate.
I don’t see them paying all the money for Cole or Strasburg , the one thing holding them back is Stanton’s contract, glad they did take on all of it, Now they are stuck with it.
Stanton isn’t holding them back. Is Pujols holding the Angels back?
Don’t forget about the 63 million the paid Josh Hamilton for his terrible contract. Pot meet kettle.
Pujols has only 2 seasons remaining and Stanton has 8. So yes, Stanton likely impacts the immediate financial future of the Yankees more than Pujols does the Angels.
Lastly, Hamilton is no longer on the payroll. Paid off years ago.
As an Angels fan, I want Cole, but I think you have to cap it at $40M AAV. It’s crazy money.
@halo – I don’t think the Stanton deal does anything negative to the yankees spending for at least 4 more years, likely 6.
1) not enough time in the existing CBA for them to hit bad penalties, plus, you know it’ll be tweaked substantially if not torn to the ground in the new deal.
2) he’s not a detriment yet to where they pay him but need to pay others to cover the role he was signed for – the way a guy like pujols need other cast members to play where he was supposed to.
No, I think Cole is a sign him if you want him, sort the rest out later situation. And there’s enough core members in NY that, if they chose, you could see a 6-8 year run of ignoring any CBT because losing 10 draft slots really wouldn’t matter, too many young guys around so long as you’re willing to pay them all.
Both teams have $$$ coming off the books in 2021/22. Both teams could afford to offer 35-40m Aav and not even blink. It seems the Yankees are far more willing to pay a tier 2 or 3 tax @ $228/248m than the Angels are to even sniff a tier 1 tax at $208m. Arte needs to seriously step up and match NYY dollar for dollar with Cole. It wouldn’t hurt if Angels would sign another of the top 5 available FA SP to make the team more attractive to Cole as well. Create a buzz with a Ryu/Madbum/etc. signing and let the world repeatedly know you’re still interested in Cole as priority 1.
The Mick… Ellsbury
5Tool: That would be the best case scenario for the Angels. Hope that’s the plan at the winter meetings.
You are correct, which is why I referred to Hamilton’s contract in the past tense. I was merely demonstrating that the Angels have also negotiated bad contracts/trades before.
Regardless, you’re statement that it will impact the Yankees future is spot on; but, I don’t think it will be prohibitive. I didn’t care for the Stanton trade when it happened for that reason.
Thats why I think he will chose the angels, Yanks won’t go over 40 mill a year for him
It would seem that the Angels need a lot more than adding Cole and Maddon to be competitive in the AL West….using all their remaining funds to sign the top $ free agent will prevent them from adding the quality and quantity they need to effectively compete against the stacked Astros, and also the always over-achieving A’s!
You underestimate the Yankees interest in spending what they need to in $ to make Cole a Yankee….if he chooses the Angels or another team, it won’t be money or years that get in the Yankees way….that’s the buzz from everything we read back in NY.
The Stanton contract won’t be a factor. The only factor is whatever upper limit is in their mind. Hopefully it’s around $250MM. If they get him for that or less, fine. If the Angels offer more, let them have him. The way Cashman has been talking, though, they might be ready to go to $275MM.
Maybe I’m wrong but I think teams worry a hell of a lot more about the AAV and luxury tax impact for the immediate season than they do the overall total of a contract.
Angels about to desperately overpay for Brett Anderson
How about this for a crazy trade idea:
JA Happ
Clint Frazier
Miguel Andujar
For
Eric Hosmer
Michel Baez
Owen Miller
Andujar plays 1B for SD. NY gets a left handed hitting 1B and two good prospects for taking on Hosmer’s salary. SD gets a starter they need who’s fly ball tendencies will play better in that park
And I thought Jim Bowdens trade proposal was the dumbest thing I’ve heard. Seems I owe him an apology.
I don’t see the Yankees taking on Hosmer’s contract. They’re already in luxury tax territory. With Cole that will get even worse.
All I know is as far as Cole is concerned insiders have said Brian Cashman has received the go ahead from management to not worry about the luxury tax ramifications.
It really reads as though someone (or multiple) are hoping to chill bidding and discourage teams from getting in with the idea a NY signing is inevitable.
50/50 on whether it works, or, does what Boras wants and encourage teams to go higher
Interesting take
This could work
For San Diego it would.
For NY not so much.
It would give NY a bad contract for five more years (Hosmer), a middle infielder that’s just getting to AA (Miller) and a reliever with a high walk rate with average strikeout numbers (Baez). While selling low on two players with options left. And as much as SPs are needed in MLB, the Yankees would have no problem unloading Happ if they want. I’m not saying they would get a good return but they could move him without taking on a terrible contract.
As overrated as Hosmer is, I think he would fit the Yankees pretty well. He hits left handed which would play well in that park and balance out that right handed heavy lineup plus they need a 1B. Happ would offset some of the salary and that deal could give the Yankees farm system a much needed shot in the arm of young prospects. I dont necessary think it’s a realistic trade, I was proposing it just for fun really. This is trade rumors site after all.
See my earlier post about the left handed Yankee Stadium myth.
The Yankees have a first baseman: Luke Voit
The Yankees have a lefty first baseman: Mike Ford
The Yankees have minor league infield depth: Estrada and Wade
The Yankees have an awesome bullpen
So far you have addressed no actual need for the Yankees, just a wish to rid the Padres of that ridiculous contract they gave Hosmer.
That right handed heavy lineup hit 306 home runs….1 less than league leading Minn. and was one of the best hitting lineups in the league……taking on a Very Bad contract when the Yankees already have one that is not boding well in Stanton, is not the way to improve….as it is the Yankees won 103 games….how many more would they win with Hosmer who’s best days are probably behind him while he make piles of cash for the effort on the back end of that bad contract….great deal for San Diego as they can play either guy, or flip them for other players they need to compete. The Yankees don’t need middle infield prospects…their farm is loaded with them, and relievers come and go…..bad proposed deal for the Yankees.
I’m a Phillies fan, I dont “wish” anything other than my team signing Cole or Rendon at this point. It was just a trade proposal for fun. I actually worked in the front office of a professional baseball club before so you can stop acting like you’re above everybody with your baseball knowledge. You are not. That being said, I do believe the Yankees should be offering up Frazier & Andujar in a package for a CF and to a lesser extent, a 1B.
Yes, they probably should. Any idsa of who you think w old be a good fit for CF?
I don’t profess some great knowledge, I just know my favorite team’s needs and overpaid first baseman ain’t it.
They need an elite SP: hopefully Cole
A decision on SS: Torres or Didi
A stopgap CF: likely Gardner
Backup C: resign Romine or go with out of options Higashioka
Maybe a mid innings reliever or resign Betances
That’s pretty dang accurate.
I’ve never commented on this site; however, Mo4ever is consistently disparaged for making valid points. Although sometimes he makes an emotional appeal, nearly every non-Yankees fan that criticizes Yankee fans, does so from a hypocritical perspective.
I’ve read these haters postulate that Yankees buy championships, yet these same folks demand their teams spend excessively so they can win. Alternatively, if the Yankees set a limit, Hal is viewed as too frugal. Consequently, you end up with persistent Yankee-bashing, regardless of the outcome. When Mo posits that the Yankees will get Cole, when the Yankees say they will spend whatever it takes, you criticize him for supporting the most substantive info available, and make a counterclaim that he will go west with far less reliable information.
Plus, for the incessantly angry people that hate on Heyman for simply reporting on the largest market team that provides information to him, why do you read it and comment if it bothers you so?
Thanks Mo.
Touché
Not hardly. But nice try.
I should’ve put a “?”after….. my bad Mo
Yankees and Dodgers have the bidding war of all bidding wars and Gerrit Cole gets over a half a billion dollars over ten years.
The Dodgers can most probably afford to. lose out on Cole given their current division foes and the strength of their current roster and minor leagues…..if for whatever reason they find themselves in a dog fight for the division, they can always use their current trade chips to acquire whatever they need, especially pitching from teams that have dropped out of the race.
The Yankees meanwhile, have been to the mountain too many times and come away empty…..they need to be all in and so whatever it takes to sign him to front the rotation.
I’m not doubting the Yankees have serious interest in Cole. But the near-fainting-from-desire characterization from Heyman sounds a lot like him doing his thing, which is quoting Boras without attribution.
Prima Donna everywhere he’s played. Perfect for the Yankees
@tiredolddude
Cole is a prima donna? Interesting take. I haven’t heard much news (if any at all honestly) of him ever being a primadonna, in Pittsburgh or Houston…
Don’t listen to him, he’s just a tired old dude.
Cole is a pure #2 (but an elite one.) He thrived pitching behind Verlander. Anyone who signs him to front a rotation solo will be highly disappointed. If Yankees sign him they need to get Bumgarner or Strasburg too to share the heat.
I agree that Yankees addition of a solid pitcher facilitates Cole’s ability to be consistently dominant.
Tanaka is lights out in the postseason. If Paxton and Sevy pitch to their capabilities, Cole would be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Very true. If they had Cole in October, ‘19, they would’ve been champions, in my opinion, regardless of their terrible approach to hitting and the Astros cheating.
Hahaha! Now that it’s the NYY who might get Cole, he’s suddenly a #2!!! That’s rich! BWAHAHAHA! Get out of town. The guy is the top ace in baseball. He went five months without a loss!!! The top ace. Period.
Severino, Tanaka, Paxton and German will do fine sharing the heat.
With the way Tanaka pitches in October, he and Cole would be the winning combination. If Paxton is on, as he demonstrated he is capable of, there is a very high probability they win it all fairly easily.
Hey Mick, when you tell stories, be sure to start out… “Once upon a time”.
Uh, stories? High probability means more than likely. I opine because of their performance. You can feel free to exit the conversation at any time. Or, you can join the criticizing camp that makes absurd assertions, for example, they will void his contract if he gets injured. Don’t get upset because they may get to #28, it’s just speculation. Nonetheless, how about, once upon a time the Yankees established themselves as the greatest sports organization because they won 27 world championships and are courting Cole to get their 28th, most likely? Will that work?
Mick.. Pay no attention to that idiot. He’s just one of those sad sox fans we were talking about.
I agree I think NY needs a second pitcher in the Strasburg (I wish) or MadBum category to push them over the hump and beat the Astros
I think what the OP is saying is a number 1 talented pitcher but put the spotlight on him and he may crumble. Remember the multiple times the yankees got javier vazquez and he was not even the top guy, but did well before and after he was with the yankees.
Pitching in Pittsburgh and Houston is a very big difference than pitching in ny.
The Yankees may very well sign Cole, but these quick takes constantly coming from the media is not being leaked by the Yankees. No advantage. This is coming from the Boras camp to drive up Cole’s price by now making it appear a monster offer will be needed to land him. The Angels and Dodgers are fully capable of making an equivalent offer and they still have the advantage of being out west.
You make a valid point, but consider the Yankees may benefit from this too. If a team like the Angels, with many holes to fill, know the Yankees will “spend whatever it takes” then they may put their negotiating efforts into other FAs who they are more confident they will acquire; thus, the Yankees repeated relational exposure with Cole may actually result in a lower price – it will still break the record by far, however.
I kinda think they are from the Yankees and not the Boras camp. Teams do this when they court free agent stars. WE WANT YOU! We sent an entourage to meet you! So&So is priority 1! Also weren’t Steinbrenner and Cashman quoted regarding willingness or ability to take the tax hit? Pretty sure Boras can’t just float made up quotes of teams FO.
If Cole gets injured, will the Yankees void his contract like they are trying to do with Ellsbury?
They’re trying to void Ellsbury’s contract because he allegedly received unapproved treatment at another facility. If that’s true then he was in breach of contract and it should be voided.
They would if he did what Elsberry did get unauthorized treatment or surgery from an outside source which is in every baseball contract.
Yes, anyone in the workplace understands that if he gets injured at work, the insurance company the employer pays covers said injury. If the injured employee does not abide by the terms and conditions of treatment, his treatment is outside of the rules promulgated by the insurance company and his treatment is voided, leaving the employer monetarily responsible. If the employer has a contractual agreement with the employee that he must stay within the rules and he doesn’t, he is responsible for his employer’s financial burden for treatment.
It’s a shame the Yankees have to resort to this type of cheapness… just because they didn’t put insurance on Ellsbury. Oh well, we all know the Yankees will have to pay. The lawyers will make sure of it.
Its amazing how you comment on what you have no idea of!
Uh, they did put insurance on him. He’s covered…. as long as he abides by the treatment conditions, which he didn’t. I am not condoning their method, but objectively, he violated rules knowing the consequences, so it’s on him. Yanks may end up paying, they may not – we shall see. And, “the lawyers” are on both sides so I’m pretty sure “the lawyers” will draft briefs and motions and the arbitrator or magistrate will rule.
Plus, you have a very disturbing obsession with Ellsbury. It’s awkward.
” Its amazing how you comment on what you have no idea of!”
Ok, Bullwinkle, tell us the inside scoop.
Did he violate those rules or are you just humping the Yankees leg again?
Mick
“George King and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post report that Ellsbury’s deal is not insured in 2020, the final year on his contract.”
@Melchez
There was insurance in place for every year of Ellsbury’s contract except for the final year. Apparently most insurance on long term contracts goes by 3 year policies… so they had insurance for years 1-3 and 4-6, but not for year 7.
So they didn’t have insurance on Ellsbury? Just like I said.
Please clarify what you mean by “did he violate the rules or are you just humping the Yankees leg again”.
In addition to your comment’s lack of humor, we are speaking about an objective topic. You tare taking every comment personally, this you make sad attempts at personal attacks in return. You don’t understand what’s going on, so, please let the adults talk and go play MLB the Show so you can actually win at something baseball related. And here you are obsessing over Ellsbury some more. You’re pretty weird really. It’s disturbing.
And, they did have insurance the first three years during which Ellsbury was alleged to have violated his treatment terms. Hooked on phonics worked for a lot of people, you should try it.
Dont get upset when I point out your homerism. You love the yankees and think they do everything right. Here they are terribly wrong.
I’m pretty sure I know more about this than you guys do. You guys said the yankees had insurance on Ellsbury. They did for the first number of years, but not for 2020.
Put 2 and 2 together… yankees had insurance… they still paid him. The one and only year they didnt have insurance, they want to claim it’s because he got treated medically from an outside source. They didnt seem to care when the insurance paid the Bill’s. But now that the yankees have to pay…
Yankees will be paying ellsbury. Besides, 26 mil is chump change for the yankees.
We all wish we could void your contract for posting nonsense.
I’m not a Yankees fan, but I’m curious if the Yankees sign Cole, does that almost guarantee they attempt to trade Stanton? Payroll reasons..
I’m a Giants fan, I’m just curious as to what their plans are going to be after singing Cole? I know I’m biased a little, but why not sign Bumgarner to a 3 to 4 year contract?
Interesting thought, I just don’t know if anyone is willing to take on his contract, given his age and his remaining years.
If they could trade Stanton they would have done it by now. Stanton is untradable until he shows he’s a top hitter again. Even then most teams will probably stay away.
Also dont forget he has that pesky no trade clause and would have to waive it to go anywhere. Which is why the marlins probably got so little in return.
I know they don’t trade hardly ever. But if looking fir a lefty bat, how about trading with the Mets for Dom Smith? Smith had a bit of a comeback year when did play, and there’s no room for him with Mets going forward. You can let Smith and Voit battle it out for playing time.
This idea was actually posited on a few different sites as well. Dom Smith would be an interesting trade and it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve already considered it.
Don’t need him! Way to expensive!!
They didn’t need Stanton but they probably do need Cole.
Of the teams that need an ace the most it’s the angels, the yankees can go and trade their prospects plus Andujar for Degrom or something. They can let Cole head home where he belongs.
It is a shame that the best player in baseball doesn’t have the opportunity to perform in the postseason perennially. Love watching Trout play, he’s amazing.
And they wonder why nobody cares about baseball anymore.
Yankees want to sign one guy after 5 years and you pull the victim card out already
Isn’t baseball at an all-time high for revenue? At least they were in ‘18. I think it’s a 10 billion dollar industry, which is pretty good for nobody caring. Oh my bad, you meant in Chicago! Alright, I’m tracking fella
The Yankees don’t need to actually sign Cole. They just need to bid up his price to keep him off the Astros. If the Angels or Phillies get him they still aren’t title contenders.
Take him off Houston and their rotation consists of two stalwards in their mid 30s and a bunch of question marks. Not to mention that MLB will not let them cheat again next year.
They do need him or a #1/2. Can’t win the whole thing without it. Their SP is not competitive with Houston.
Yankees really do need him. Tanaka is good, Paxton is good… but they aren’t what you’d call true aces. Tanaka and Paxton averaged 5 innings per start. With that bullpen, hat’s great. They need a horse at the top of the rotation that you can count on getting you 7 innings per start. Cole does that. Going into the playoffs, you want a guy that you can say… “Okay, our ace will get us wins in games 1 and 4 and he might be able to pitch in a game 7” The rest of your starters are then just responsible for 2 wins.
Making Tanaka, Paxton, Severino and German the rest of your rotation, you match up favorably against every other rotation. Yankees will be favorites to win the World Series if they pick up Cole. They become the team to beat in the playoffs. There is no doubt, they are the best team if they sign Cole.
The regular season will be a breeze. Yankees have Happ as a 6th man to fill in at times or even go with a 6 man rotation for a short time to give a slight break. Then when the playoffs start, Yankees have Cole/ Paxton/ Severino/ Tanaka as their rotation. 4 very solid starters and all have playoff success.
The Yankees NEED Cole.
I’m still waiting for the Twins to surprise everybody and swoop in and grab both Cole and Rendon…yes, still waiting….man I really hate being a Minnesota sports fan sometimes. I’m just going to go sit in the corner now and bounce my head off the wall for thinking the Twins would actually spend some money in free agency for once.
Oh boy this will be like the Ellsbury singing