The 2019 season came to a sad end Wednesday for the Astros, who watched their 2-0 lead over the Nationals in Game 7 of the World Series evaporate during the latter stages of the contest. The club may now be on the verge of losing one of its best players, free-agent right-hander Gerrit Cole, who did not factor into its Game 7 loss. Speaking to reporters afterward, Cole sounded like someone who believes his Astros tenure is over.
“I’m not an employee of the team,” Cole said to an Astros spokesperson (via Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle). “I guess as a representative of myself…”
Cole was wearing a hat representing his agency, the Boras Corporation, at the time. But Cole indicated Thursday (per Atkins) that didn’t mean anything, calling the cap “a good luck charm.” He also walked back his comments from Wednesday, saying: “I was upset, and my tone did not come off quite the way I wanted it to. One win away. We had the lead with eight outs to go. It’s just a tough pill to swallow.”
After starter Zack Greinke exited with a 2-1 lead, one out and a runner on first in the top of the seventh inning, the Astros could have subbed in Cole and attempted to ride to the finish line with the potential AL Cy Young winner. However, in fairness to manager A.J. Hinch, Cole has not pitched in relief since his days at UCLA. With that in mind, Hinch turned to Will Harris – who was brilliant for most of the postseason – and then closer Roberto Osuna, Ryan Pressly, Joe Smith and Jose Urquidy. In the end, the team’s relief corps failed miserably in what wound up as a 6-2 year-ending implosion for the Astros.
Of course, even a championship-clinching win Wednesday wouldn’t have changed the fact that the Astros have their work cut out for them in trying to keep Cole. At the outset of the playoffs, owner Jim Crane admitted he’s unsure whether Houston will be able to put a legitimate bid on the table for Cole, who seems more and more likely to blow past David Price’s seven-year, $217MM contract and sign the richest deal ever for a pitcher. Concerns over the luxury tax could help bring an end to Cole’s run with the Astros after two extraordinarily productive seasons, but despite the frustration the 29-year-old showed Wednesday, he’s not closing the door on a potential new agreement with Houston.
“I’m really grateful for this experience. I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m not saying goodbye, by any means,” Cole said Thursday. “I truthfully don’t have a crystal ball. I could speak to what I know. And I know that I’ve loved every second here and I loved competing with the guys.”
Dodgers!
Cole
Buhler
Kershaw
May
Urias
Gonslin
Madea
Striplin
(Hill and Ryu ) If they decide to come back for a discount. Deep Deep Deep!
Hahahahaha
Going with a 10 man rotation I see lol
I think it’s Angels then Padres.
Angels get Cole
Padres get Stasburg if he opts out
Both record deals thanks to Scott Boras
You think angels going to commit that kind of coin when they have over $100MM tied up between 4 players right now?
Yes. Arte said he’s going to spend this off season. So yes, I think they will since the owner states it.
Angels lol,maybe if they buy a whole other team except Trout,not close to winning
“Stupid money”, right?
Yeah some serious coin there
With his words and actions, Cole sounds like the perrrrfect Yankee.
A true mercenary. Just open his heart, to the highest bidder.
Lots of luck to whoever is the ‘lucky’ team.
Sure, they are about $100m tax number, adding like $32m to that to leave $60m+ wiggle room seems rather reasonable.
And they will still get knocked out of the playoffs!
lol and when that does happen, what will you do?
Dream on
and still losing in the playoffs! cool!
And they would still lose the WS
Why would you want Hill back? Also, Ryu is going to finish in the top 3 for cy young. He’s not going to be discounted.
Why would you want Hill back is the wrong question. Why wouldn’t you want Rich Hill back at the right price? He loves LA and that clubhouse loves him. Add to the fact that Dodgers are lacking consistent LH RPs, Hill is at that stage where transitioning into a swing guy/RP is a perfect fit should he want to prolong his career. So on a one year deal at the right price with the new rule conceivably going into effect it should be a no brainer. Let’s not forget the Dodgers best LH RP right now is a specialist that is going to be hurt the most by the new rule, followed by Ferguson who it took until August to iron out the kinks with his hammer so it’s a mixed bag. Gonzalez has been a revelation since being moved to the pen upper 90s with filth breaking stuff, but again you still have to see him repeat after a long season. But anyways I see a few off that list moved to upgrade the club regardless of whether the Dodgers decide to spend on Cole.
I guess the Dodgers got an exemption and are going with a 32 man roster in 2020.
It’s whatever team has enough money with not going over the threshold with just signing Cole where the team can focus on signing another player or two!
You forgot Strasburg
Of course I would love to see Cole on the Yankees…but not at $250 million for 7/8 years. $35 million/yr for one pitcher? No thanks.
If you’re not the one paying him the money why would you care how much the team offered him. I don’t think expect the Yankees to sign him but they would be smart to do whatever it takes to get him in pinstripes
Because teams have limits. Even the Red Sox and Cubs have limits. You may think they shouldn’t, but the teams disagree, and their vote counts.
I care about how much the team is paying any player because it has an affect on acquiring other players if a few ” stars ” are taking up too much payroll space. Cole is a stud, no doubt, but is it really economically prudent to spend approximately 15% of the Yankees payroll on 1 player? Not in my book.
The Yankees have over $40 mil coming off the books after next season from Ellsbury and Tanaka and could have $17 mil coming off this offseason if Chapman opts out and walks. Getting an ace like Cole makes the Yankees the prohibitive favorites to win the World Series next year and that should be the goal here
A good farm system solves all of that.
I don’t know if he’d have interest in NY, but I’d rather see them sign Bumgarner. If not, then Wheeler and extend Paxton and possibly even Tanaka. None of those guys is going to cost $245 – $250 million. You might be able to sign Bumgarner AND Paxton for what it would cost yearly just for Cole. It’s just my opinion. I can’t justify paying 1 pitcher, no matter how excellent, $35 million per.
I don’t see Bumgarner leaving the Giants as both sides have shown they want him there for life. Also Wheeler doesn’t make nearly as big an impact as Cole and Paxton should be extended regardless
he grew up a yankees fan
So? Mike Trout grew up a Phillies fan, that doesn’t make it a slam dunk a player will sign with his childhood team. Too many factors in what a player is looking for, ring, money, ????
If he wants a ring than it’s not the LAA. It’d be Houston, Dodgers, Red Sox, Phillies, Nats, Braves, or his childhood team the Bombers.
The Astros were the prohibitive favorites THIS year. How did THAT work out?
Like how the Astros were prohibitive favorites this year with Cole? LOL
Don’t let proximity fool you, Trout grew up cheering for the Yankees. He’s said so on numerous occasions.
Mike trout grew up a Yankees fan buddy… the Phillies are a total losers
Dodgers went to the World Series back to back and still lost. Phillies haven’t been to the World Series for what, 10 years? Braves haven’t been to the World Series for how long? Cole is a Southern Cal kid?
I have a feeling you don’t know a thing about the Angels.
Trout didn’t go home cause he is sick of old friends and neighbors hitting him up for money all year around.
Hey Snyder and apbadogs are you guys implying that it was Cole’s fault the Astros didn’t win the WS? The Astros didn’t win because they had a weak bullpen. The Yankees bullpen is far better and their lineup is better as well. If Cole signs with the Yankees they are head and shoulders above everyone else
Hey buddy do a simple search on Trout and the Phillies, let alone the Eagles. He loved Jeter but his team was the Phillies growing up. Educate yourself on a subject before respond
Baumgartner had a no trade to NYY so i would assume that deal wouldn’t happen.
if you intend to watch the yankees in any sense then yes you are the one paying for him. It will cost more for tickets if you go to the game or if you are instead watching them on tv they will charge the cable company more to have them on their network in the next tv deal. Guess who pays that increase … not gerrit cole. In the end the yankees are paying him his salary but they are getting it back from the fans one way or the other. …
In case you haven’t noticed the Yankees usually get at least 3 nationally televised games a week between MLB Network and ESPN. That won’t change just because they got Cole. If anything it would get those networks to push harder to televise their games. Also I think the fans wouldn’t mine paying a little extra to go to games if it meant the team wins the World Series. It’s been a decade since the Yankees last title and fans are getting restless
The yankees with a very unlikely win total this past year with all the hits they took for the IL with guys coming out of nowhere that really stepped up. I dont think you get that lucky this year. You also have to factor in you are losing atleast 3-4 people that would be big into repeating that win total.
Chapman likely to opt out
Gregorious – didnt play much but lose some versatility with DJ
Hicks – TJ surgery and out most of the year
Gardner – unless they resign which i hope they do
Maybin – Contributed quite a bit
Betances – missed much of last year but top relief guy
CC – ate up some inning even if not great
Encarnacion – solid contributor
Romine – played regularly and very good backup that could start on many teams
the only pieces you get back that was missing
Stanton – and he seems to be injury prone
Andujar – no real position unless you move voit or ushela
severino – full season
ellsbury – ha
so you will be paying a lot to try to get back to the series as i dont think they reset their penalty so anything over that tax threshold will be making every contract that much more expensive. Pretty much all that salary you are losing is going to arbitration and cole. Will Cole make up that much of a difference and carry you to the world series?
This also assumes Tauschman and Ushela and others werent just lightening in a bottle years. Also your other starters are getting older and probably not better. World Series chances are better with Cole on the team than without but its still not a certainty they get to the series.
yes they may be on there but mlb network i believe is separate package/addon than yes that is included with most decent packages. You will still be paying the extra either way as im sure those packages get increase every year aswell. I dont have mlb network as i found it not worth it so cant say for sure.
The Yankees won 103 games this year despite setting the record for most players ever to hit the IL in a single season. Almost every major contributor had a stint at some point and several had long stints. As is the Yankees are the favorites to win the AL East next year and will probably be the AL favorites overall if the Astros lose Cole, especially if he signs with the Yankees. Also I don’t have tradition cable anymore, I have YouTube TV which includes MLB Network and pretty much every other channel I watch for a reasonable price
I hate to say you are entirely wrong and not very intelligent but… well, you get the idea.
That’s been proven untrue over and over again. The Yankees are a cash cow just like other big market teams. Salaries have no barring on your prices. Gate receipts go into the owners pocket, so if you believe in the buck gets passed onto you myth then you’d falsely believe tickets/concessions etc would go decrease if they were to strip payroll which is the furthest from the truth. The simple fact of the matter is tickets/concessions are going to be increased at a market rate, which is why many are being priced out of the game. They will also increase and never decrease on a whole unless their is significant damage to the brand. Even branding 101 tells you a decrease in prices hurts the brand. It has everything to do with branding and zero to do with salaries. The Yankees clear 700M annually yet somehow fans have been brainwashed by owners to believe they can’t afford a Cole or if we sign Cole we’re at risk for increases so it’s not good to sign him. In reality, it’s going to happen regardless.
Not everyone wants to be a yankee.
Not every New Yorker roots for Yankees. Unfair to let them sign him & only wouldn’t mind them signing him if he becomes a bust based on performance, not an injury. Mets fan, in case you couldn’t tell.
I don’t think the yankees have a choice. They need to open the bank for Cole. They’re pitching again was not good this post season and they need two studs
I agree
Not worth that much coin
If the Yanks do not spend that kind of money, they miss out on Cole…….again…..
Pundits seem to think it’s a forgone conclusion he will sign with the Angels, any other teams with a genuine chance? Love the Giants to get involved but not sure they will go to the lengths it’ll take to get him
I think the Giants will at least “pursue” him similarly to how they did with Harper last offseason but I don’t see them overpaying for his services. I can easily see a desperate win-now team like the Phillies/Angels doing so, but the Giants are in no rush to contend.
I agree Giants will get in. I think they will be very serious bidder, to the point of finishing top two or three (perhaps behind Phillies or Nats) but Angels seem so likely to get him.
As an Angel fan, I don’t know where he will sign. My guess is the Angels, but if I had to place a bet, I’d take the field.
He wants to win ♂️
People who say what you just said don’t know a thing about the Angels.
I want him to sign with the Angels, but who knows what’s in Cole’s mind of what he wants. I hope he signs with a team quickly and doesn’t drag it out until February so teams can move on to plan B if they don’t land him. Wishful thinking I know with a player of his caliber
I hope the Giants don’t sign him. I always say ‘never sign a 30-year old pitcher to a 5-year contract’ and this one looks to be even more years than that. The Giants are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel with those contracts to Shark and Cueto, and have been divorced from Cain and Zito for a few years now.
$35 million a year for a pitcher in his 30s with some mileage on his arm raises so many flags I feel like I’m at the UN. For that price they can get two or three good pitchers to fill out their rotation.
The Giants currently have his Brother in Law on their roster…so they at least have connections. They also are a Pitcher Friendly Ball Park in Cole’s home state of California.
It could happen. I’m not sure if the Giants will bid enough tho. Everyone wants Cole…it just comes down to which GM makes the best offer.
I think the Angel’s are in the lead. Yankees are probably in 2nd. Phillies in 3rd.
The Braves & Nationals will likely be focused on resigning players n signing some cheaper Free Agents.
Dodgers will likely be going for Lindor & miss out on Cole. They might try to keep Ryu tho but Idk. He wasnt good in Post season.
Twins are too cheap. Rangers will try to get in the chase but probably fall short as usual.
Perhaps the Padres or Giants can pull it off. Maybe even the Brewers.
I think it’s safe to say he will be going to LA, NY, or Philly tho.
He’s going to get seven years 230+ million dollars. Someone is going to take a chance.
As an Angel fan, I want him, but I don’t know if I want him at that price Even the Red Sox and Cubs have payroll limits. If the Angels miss on him, how can they comeback from that?
Angels have only one long term signee in Trout. The angels can easily sign Cole and stay well under the lux tax limit. They could probably sign Cole, Grandal and another middle road pitcher and stay at it just below the limit with another 27 million falling off after 2020 and then 30 million after 2021 when Pujols contract is up. They are in good position to take a giant leap forward in the next few years starting next season.
Thank you
almost $700 million tied up between trout and cole if signed? yikes, still not winning anything. astros had verlander,,cole,,and greinke and an offense that embarrasses the angels and came up short.
Yet a team with less than the Astros came up big and won it. So what’s you’re point?
The Angels will have $50-60m, they can afford to allocate most of that to 1-2 SP. Then after Cozart, Pujols, Simmons, Upton contracts end they can figure out how to allocate that.
As long as the Angels stay under the luxury tax I see no problems, they draw +3m fans a year and they have a decent TV deal.
That of course assumes he wishes to play for a team that is quite far away talent wise from what he has accustomed himself to with the Astros.
Everyone is assuming the draw for Cole is playing for the team he grew up near…is Trout playing for the Phillies just because he grew up in South Jersey?
Until Moreno publicly states he is prepared to spend big in free agency, this is all conjecture.
Moreno did publicly say he will be spending more when they had the Maddon introduction.
He has spend big in the past …2011/12 was Pujols 10/252, Wilson 5/70 and some lesser signings.
7/230-240m for Cole and 4/60-75m for another SP wouldn’t surprise me.
All you people that say “Trout didn’t go to Philly” need to stop. Every player is different and has different values. If I got the same money to play in front of my home crowd or to move to NYC I’d stay home.
The dude was wearing his agent’s hat in the press conference after the game. That tells me everything. He is after the big contract, period. If the Angels offer it, he’s gonna sign there.
jekporkins
It was very well known that Trout liked playing for the Angels. It was very well known he’s a Philadelphia fan. Two pieces of information, both valid.
Cole would prefer to play for a West Coast team. Boras clients typically go to the highest bidder. Boras likes long drawn out negotiations. The Angels owner likes to strike fast.
Individuals vary on how they handle contradictory information. Some only accept the information they want to believe, and some have discernment.
There are too many factors for me to have a good idea where Cole will play.
Ask the Red Sox if they like that Price contract now. Ask the Cubs if they like the Darvish contract.
Cole looks great now. But remember, Father Time is undefeated.
The Cubs only signed Darvish since their new network begins this upcoming season and they want to attract that Japanese market!
Wrong
This, I’m a lifelong Stros fan, I would gladly give Cole $120 over 3 years. I have no desire to pay any pitcher for 8 years unless it’s some kind of pre arb extension. Those deals never work out.
It’s interesting, Gerrit Cole being “sure” to sign with the Angels because of hometown roots seems eerily familiar to when Patrick Corbin was “sure” to sign with the Yankees because of hometown roots. Nothing is ever certain with the state of Free Agency nowadays.
Wasn’t that more about on the Yankees not willing to go the extra year on Corbin? And D.C isn’t that far from NY just a quick 45min flight.
I’m curious to see where he goes, I think the Angels are the favorite however I think some other teams will be in the mix. There’s a shot the Giants will as Zaidi has expressed interest in getting some legit starting pitching, however I think they will go for overall rotation depth instead of a big name guy, Most likely guys like Akex Wood, Wade Miley, and Kyle Gibson.
Although Im a little entertained by fan fiction still havent heard him say he prefers the west coast.
I’m entertained by people who don’t know how to google.
I’ll even help. Google “Cole would love to play on the West Coast”
Here is one of the headlines.
Astros know Gerrit Cole wants to be ‘West Coast guy’ in MLB free agency
But there is more than one. I’m sure Boras is telling him to shut his trap, but there it is.
uhmm im entertained by people who cant read even when using google,,, did those words come out of coles mouth,,even when using google idiots still prevail,,there ya go!
Amazing how easily some people can attempt to turn speculation into fact.
You can discount the information, choose to ignore the information but a quick google search would have told you it was not “fan fiction.”
I actually think the information is accurate but I believe the negotiation styles of Boras and Moreno will make a bigger difference.
Well, I guess there we have it. Why bother waiting? It’s obviously a fact since it says it on the internet. He’ll never be associated with anything but a west coast team again. Case closed
It’s information, apply the information the way you want. Information is not fiction. It’s not fact. It’s just information.
It takes wisdom to discern the information.
Million Dollar Arm,, Hyperbolize much?
Here is data. People who sign with Boras normally go where the money is. Add that to the information about Cole preferring to play on the West Coast.
Now you get to pick which piece of information carries more weight.
We’re all entertained by special people like you. Kudos on dressing yourself 2 days in a row. You keep up the practice on those loops, and you’re gonna get out of those velcro shoes any day now.
Wow. Ad hominin attacks. Nice. There are many ways to ignore information and Ad hominin comebacks have worked for decades if not centuries. Not to mention, it doesn’t take much effort or research to spew them.
Ken Griffey Jr wanted to play closer to home (Florida) and settled on Cincy. Not exactly “close to home”.
Cole being a West Coast guy means nothing when the green flashes in-front of his eyes.
Morton wanted to play in Florida, he’s playing in Florida for a lot less than he could have gotten. Sabathia wanted to be on the West Coast, he played in New York for a lot more than he could have gotten on the West Coast. .
I wouldn’t say it means nothing. You just have to give it the proper weight. And you have to give the proper weight to the fact this is not coming directly from Cole.
My opinion is Cole listens to his agent and doesn’t sign until after the Winter meetings. Which means he wont be signing with the Angels.
Well said. Patrick Corbin was all but guaranteed to play for the Yankees because he loved them growing up. In the end; Washington ponies up an extra year and $20 M more and he loves the Nationals. Money talks the loudest no matter what the know-it-alls say.
He grew up there. Not a reach to think he would want to live there. He was born and raised there is apparently not enough to believe he would lean that way. He even went to college there. But but he was a Yankee fan. The Bora$ hat is the real tell.
I foresee the Yankees spending big on pitching this year. They will trade some of their spare pieces for pitching and get at least one of Strasberg/Cole! Wouldn’t be surprised to see Stanton traded as well. I know they wouldn’t get much for him unless they eat some payroll but he’s totally expendable. The Phillies would probably trade for him just to have another big name running their outfield. Reds are pretty thin in the outfield as well. Stanton stays much healthier when he’s in the field everyday. Cleveland would be interested as well if the Yankees eat enough payroll and then they could get the albatross of Lindor’s future out of their future and cure that unproductive outfield problem they have. May be interesting to watch.
Stanton traded?? Good luck with but I don’t see that happening unless they eat up most his contract not some!
Not to mention he still has a full NTC which I doubt he would set aside when it comes to a trade. I mean he made it quite clear last time what his preferences were.
Who the hell do you think would trade for Stanton and his contract??
Boras to Cole, just say your happy to play for any organization as long as the money’s right.
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!
I hope the Dodgers do sign him so they can just blow more money and have less to spend on impact players
How many more “impact players “ do they need?
Not to mention one of the deepest, high quality farm system in baseball. It would scare the hell out of me if he went to the Dodgers. I don’t think Brian Roberts would be able to screw that team up
Lol he’d figure it out.
Think cole takes 45 with the angels? Since the last person to have that number passed away?
why not?
he went to college, so unlike skaggs, pretty sure he can read a prescription bottle
I just meant because the number is sensitive. Would they let someone else use it?
Not being able to read a prescription bottle didn’t kill him.
Like most addicts like that, you get hurt and they give you opiate pain pills. Major sports are lousy with them. There’s an NFL scandal right now about it.
Then some just get addicted even taking them as directed.
The big problem is it seemed he liked oxycodone and had fentanyl in his system which could mean someone made a fake of a pill with it. Dealers using fentanyl instead is killing people.
Has is even been ruled out as a suicide?
@ludafish there were no fake fentanyl laced pills. there is plenty of info out there between Skaggs and his drug addict dealer who happened to work for the team.
The autopsy revealed fentanyl oxycodone and alprazolam. Yes the dude was an addict. My point was misreading a bottle didn’t kill him. Many users are dying right now because of “tainted” drugs with fentanyl. It’s highly possible it’s why he over dosed.
Yes I know the dude bought stuff for him. But you never know what you’re getting. And it’s possible the team gave him Percocet or Vicodin at some point he was hurt and that started the addiction . The NFL loads up guys with Percocet and they rather smoke weed but that’s not ok for some reason.
Either way the only point I was trying to make was mfm420 said Cole could read a prescription bottle, and that has nothing to do with his death. I was staying what could have made him an addict. I know he had some past use with a family member dying or something but it’s highly possible one day the Angels gave him some and that’s what opened the door.
Too soon mfm420.
OK, you let us know when it’s OK phl447.
Well, apbadogs, if you care about people, then it’s not cool to joke about a tragedy that caused an unbearable amount of pain to his family and friends that will be with them for life. You decide for yourself what’s appropriate.
It takes wisdom to understand that fentanyl and alcohol don’t mix. Since his mom was a school teacher, I don’t think he received a lot of wisdom growing up in that house.
However had he grown up in a two parent house where the father was a sanitation worker, he would have stood a much better chance.
Don’t ever confuse and education with wisdom. Seldom do the two go together.
After this teaser, Cole wants a WS so he will elect a team that the future looks great.
well thats not the angels then.
With so much demand for Cole 8yr 240m will be the starting point
some team will overpay and it wont be the yankees.
Phillies *ahem* “stupid money”
There are really just about 3-4 teams that can even afford that contract. It looks like the Angels, because it’s home, they just got Maddon, Trout, and Adell is close. The Dodgers could afford him, and would be scary with him leading that rotation. The Padres should go after him with that young core, they would be ready to compete. The Yankees, because they are the Yankees, but I just don’t see him going there, just my opinion. And crazy as it sounds, the White Sox, but they hate giving that kind of money and term to pitchers. It will be fun to watch the budding, hopefully it’s nothing like last offseason and we are the top names go relatively quick.
Well there you go…Maddon, Trout, Adell, Cole = World Series Champs
Cole is such a natural fit for the Braves. Expensive but will not cost them their overrated prospects. Of course, the Braves don’t care about winning a WS but consider another worthless division title something to celebrate.
Giant for sure. 6/230. November 8th. November 9th giants trade longo j. Smith 14mil to nats for rendon sign and trade 3/88. Mark the calendar
Lol i remember my first beer too
Make fun. How out of the realm is it?
It is measured in lightyears.
Extremely well out of the realm. My first beer was a Budweiser.
Rendon is a FA genius. My guess is Nats pony up for him. Esp since Zimmerman has a team option. Considering that Nats have are 100 million under the tax threshold, they have plenty of money to spend.
Rendon is going to shock people and go to a good team (possibly the Nats) for no more than 5 years.
Some reporters, I believe Heyman was one, hears from friends of Rendon he doesn’t want a long term deal because according to him (direct quote) “I rather watch the history channel because baseball is boring and too long”
I can see him wanting to set or meet the highest AAV for a short time. Like the Dodgers can go 4/128 or something ridiculous. Maybe even the Phillies. He got his ring so he probably wants to get paid and retire early.
So this guy saying 3/88 is insane. Going to take at least 3/100 to even start.
Until his agent convinces him it’s in his best interest to play 7 more years. Heyman should focus on making up stories and faking outrage to avoid voting for Curt Schilling in a Hall of Fame Heyman and his media buddies are trying to destroy.
Schilling had a fantastic career and his numbers do warrant HoF entrance.
But fabricate stories on him? He’s a terrible person. Even before Trump was political. He also duped people out of millions with his video game company and messed up the city he started it in. He’s close to being Ted Nugent gone.
Yes. Heyman is a terrible person.
No reason for you to bring up Trump. Trump isn’t the reason why Schilling isn’t the Hall of Fame. It’s turds like Heyman.
Duping a city? Government should have never supplied Curt with money. Him or anyone else. Curt didn’t put a gun to their heads.
Ted Nugent gone? That’s a fabrication. Thanks for nothing Ludafish. Swim along.
About Politics. Amen. I wish people would just talk sports.
Angels.
It’s a good thing he was wearing his “good luck charm” AFTER his team lost game 7 of the World Series…
I’m fairly certain his tone came off just the way he wanted it to. He was upset he wasn’t used to close out the game, and he knows he’s not coming back.
Yeah a lot of people were hating on him but I think he was upset. Maybe felt he should of demanded his way in. Probably felt game one get to him because if they win that game then most likey win it all.
But he knows the Astros can’t keep him. Unless he takes a massive discount….but why would you? You know you can get the largest pitching contract ever so why not? 217 will be easy to beat even if it’s just 7/220.
Who knows he could take 5/175 and be a boss with 35 a year super high AAV. Some of these guys might want to walk away before 40.
He should go to the Mariners
Why?
They have plenty of money with alot of top prospects that are going to be ready for the show in 2020+. They also need another ace
He will sign a big contract and become another self satisfied very average pitcher for the remainder of his career. The big guaranteed contracts take away most of the incentive to get better.
What about Scherzer?
I have a crystal ball.
Let me rub it….OK…I see Gerrit Cole stepping off John Middleton’s private jet in Clearwater, Florida in March just like Jake Arrieta and Bryce Harper before him.
Past is prologue.
Dodgers decline Gyorko and deal Pederson they can get Cole and have money leftover. If you are Gerrit Cole and you want to play on the west coast the LA Dodgers is choice #1.
Then the Dodgers call Toronto for Ken Giles.
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
Good luck to whoever signs him. Your hat will still be secondary to him then, too. Always is.
I have never once complained about the Cole trade. Not once. This is why.
What exactly does it matter as long as he performs his duties as a player for that signing team?
Maybe he will…
Or maybe he’ll make Bartolo seem svelte and make Pujols seem like a good investment after he cashes in and never needs to pitch well again to get paid.
I watched him take a year or two off when he knew it wouldn’t affect his paycheck long term.
Good luck to whoever signs him.
Bitter over a post game hat. Hilarious!!
Oh the humanity!!
Who mentioned a hat…?
Cole is the next Harper.
Good luck to whoever signs him.
Are you a Nolan Ryan fan? In 1979 I would have much preferred Nolan Ryan wearing a Marvin Miller hat after the Angels lost in the ALCS than him writing a book and throwing Jim Fregosi and the Angel’s management under the bus.
If he had a beef with the management or the manager, which he did.. Wearing a hat and praising your teammates is a much better way than what Nolan Ryan did.
Cole wasn’t even secondary to AJ Hinch’s mind in Game 7.
Give the Astros the draft pick from your Qualifying Offer… Take the stupid money like Bryce and Manny and watch the World Series from the stands or from your vacation villa in some exotic place… Go Astros! without punk azz Ungrateful Cole…
Ahh, I found the conjecture board.
That Boras hat might as well have been a sign that said “I WILL TAKE THE BIGGEST CONTRACT”.
Ok, let me redo my comment so it gets posted.
This is just conjecture but I still cannot understand why AJ left his best pitcher in Cole in the bullpen in the last game of the season only to go to his bullpen? Is it possible that Cole was not showing life or said “I don’t feel it” too the pitching coach thinking he did enough to get him his contract and didn’t want to push further to avoid injury as per his talks with Agent Scott Boris?
His reaction after the game baffles me especially putting on Boris hat. As a Yankee fan that’s wanted Cole for years I’m now completely skeptical and I would avoid like the plague any huge long term contract starting in the 200 mill range. Let Anaheim have him at that valuation.
Is it possible that Astros don’t want to come out and say anything about Cole reaction yet to avoid conflict with the Players Assoc and Boris as well as future free agents now refusing to go there because of them hurting a free agent about to sign a huge contract???
I know it’s all conspiracy type stuff but I cannot understand how a coach like AJ Hinch with the easier choice to go with the best pitcher in baseball after Grienke slips up there!
If Strasburg is available I go after him now or even Bumgardner or Wheeler. The Yankees are missing that one arm in the post season and they don’t need it at 200 mill plus.
Just my thoughts…..
Watch the Pirates swoop in and bring Cole back next year.
Cole Tucker.
Dodgers turned down greinke…not paying cole. They don’t do these massive contracts. Angels. Book it. Trout needs help.
Let’s stop trying to play revisionist history to try and prove a point. The Dodgers believed they had a deal in place, the DBacks swooped in at the 11th hour and basically gave Grienke a take it or leave it offer. And good for him, he took it. The Angels may sign him if they offer him a buttload of money much like a team from the field if they offer him a boatload of money.
If Cole were smart he’d sign with the Dodgers. They are poised to win the next 5 years.
Prior to the Winter meetings, I’m pretty confident the Angels will offer Cole a tremendous amount of money. No matter how much money it is, Boras will tell Cole that he can do better. At that point Cole will have to choose the Angels or the Angels will move on.
If I had to “guess correctly or die”, my bet is Cole rejects the offer and the Angels move on. But everyone’s guess is just as valid as mine.
A little bit of a tantrum pretty evident here. Not even a good job trying to back track. If you’re looking for a long term contract, you just hit the forget it button for me.
Still, my biggest concern is Astros fire Hinch for being incredibly inept when it counts and Zaidi thinks he’s a fit.
I see 6 years, $180M to the Angels and Tommy John surgery in August of 2020. It’s the natural way of things.
As much as I’d like to see Cole or Strasburg land in Atlanta, the price and length of contract will be out of the Braves’ comfort zone. Cole will be an Angel. Strasburg maybe a Padre. Braves might spring for Wheeler or Ryu.
Why not defer some of the money for when Geinke and Verlander are gone? Let him be the ace for years.
Most guys who’ve left the Pirates recently—Cutch, Walker, Morton, Harrison, AJ—you could say were just good guys. I’m glad Cole learned how to pitch in Houston and that someone woke him up in his belief he could just blow the ball by everyone. I’m glad he’ll be on the gravy train soon. But his comments after the Astros loss illustrate he’s the same prima Donna he’s always been
Angels get Cole and King Felix as a back end starter, trade for Lindor and or Baez decline Calhoun option and resign him for less and start teaching him 1st base. Eppler you need an assistant GM?
Well said. Patrick Corbin was all but guaranteed to play for the Yankees because he loved them growing up. In the end; Washington ponies up an extra year and $20 M more and he loves the Nationals. Money talks the loudest no matter what the know-it-alls say.