Stephen Strasburg contract with Nationals ups New York Yankees' bidding on Gerrit Cole
SAN DIEGO – Here’s the new reality facing the New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole’s price tag just moved a whole lot closer to $300 million.
That’s because Cole’s stablemate in Scott Boras’ elite free-agent starting pitching barn, Stephen Strasburg, has reportedly agreed to a staggering seven-year, $245 million contract to remain with the Washington Nationals, two people familiar with the negotiations told Paste BN Sports on Monday.
The people were granted anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that over $80 million of Strasburg's contract will be deferred.
Initial bids on Cole are expected to be offered this week, with the Yankees and Los Angeles Angels seen as the leading candidates to land the ace right-hander, with the Los Angeles Dodgers looming.
And it might be time to re-think those initial figures to keep in line with Cole's new market reality.
Traveling from New York, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was due to arrive at the Winter Meetings headquarters at the Manchester Grand Hyatt on Monday afternoon.
Strasburg's deal shatters the record $217 million, seven-year contract that David Price received from the Boston Red Sox in 2015. And the $35 million annual average is also a new record.
Both of those records will be topped by Cole, 29, who is entering free agency in his prime.
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Over the past two All-Star seasons with the Houston Astros, Cole has a 35-10 record and a 2.68 ERA, averaging 301 strikeouts per season with a 0.962 WHIP.
Cole could be looking at bids in the eight-year, $285 million range or higher.
Strasburg, 31, posted a record of 18-6 this year, with a 3.32 ERA and 251 strikeouts for the Nationals. He led the NL with 209 innings pitched.
The payday for Strasburg could also have a ripple effect on the third base market.
Now, the Nationals might be out on Anthony Rendon. Josh Donaldson has been tied to interest by the Texas Rangers, and teams that miss out on both free agent third basemen could turn to the Yankees, who have Miguel Andujar as a prime trade chip.
Email: caldera@northjersey.com Twitter: @pcaldera