On the heels of last night’s wild finale to the 2024 season, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. The offseason has arrived!
Game 5 of the World Series was a rollercoaster ride as the Yankees jumped out to a five-run lead in the early innings, only for the Dodgers to respond with five unearned runs off Gerrit Cole in a disastrous fifth inning full of defensive miscues. The Yankees managed to take the lead back, but only briefly as the Dodgers scored two runs in the eighth to put them ahead 7 to 6 before slamming the door on the Yankees offense for the final six outs of the 2024 campaign. While the Dodgers plan a parade and the Yankees lick their wounds, the rest of the baseball world will be turning their attention to the offseason, which officially arrives today. While it’s likely that things won’t really start to pick up for a few more days, today kicks off what’s sure to be a busy winter full of rumors, trades, and signings to discuss here at MLBTR.
2. Who are the winter’s top trade candidates?
While transactions may not be picking up just yet, it’s only a matter of time before trade and free agent rumors begin to fly. MLBTR’s annual Top 50 MLB Free Agents list is still a few days away, but readers looking for an offseason primer can look forward to a look at the Top 35 MLB Trade Candidates for the coming offseason later today! With teams like the White Sox and Marlins in the midst of rebuilds and even more competitive clubs like the Cardinals and Rangers looking to cut payroll this winter, plenty of intriguing names figure to be on the trade block this winter. The list doesn’t exclusively focus on clubs that appear certain to be active on the trade market, however, and features players from 23 of the league’s 30 clubs. Which players might your favorite club look to dangle this offseason? Tune in later today to find out!
3. What’s next for Cole?
While the vast majority of the attention was rightfully focused on star Yankees outfielder (and pending free agent) Juan Soto’s future last night, there’s one other star player on the Yankees who’s facing a decision this winter. That’s veteran right-hander Gerrit Cole, who has the ability to opt out of the remaining four years and $144MM on his contract with the Yankees if he so chooses. Should he decide to do so, the Yankees would then have the option to tack on an additional year and $36MM to Cole’s contract in order to stop him from hitting the open market.
A year ago, it looked all but certain that things would play out exactly that way, with Cole opting-out and the Yankees voiding that decision by exercising their option. Things don’t appear quite that certain anymore, however, as Cole is coming off an injury-shortened 2024 campaign where he was limited to just 17 starts. Those starts saw him pitch to a solid 3.41 ERA (121 ERA+), but that figure constitutes a step back from both his Cy Young 2023 (163 ERA+) and his overall figure (134 ERA+) as a Yankee. Will Cole attempt to beat that $144MM on the open market ahead of his age-34 campaign? And if he does, will the Yankees let him go?
Cole is one of the most overrated pitchers today
C’mon Cole has stones which is exactly what you need to succeed in the Bronx!
houzen – You can’t be serious, not after Cole’s embarrassing behavior in the Devers game.
Cole had yet another mental meltdown yesterday, he’s a very good pitcher but he’s NOT a big game pitcher because he doesn’t have the mental toughness. He doesn’t come through when he’s needed most, unlike guys such as Eovaldi.
The 2021 WC game is one of many examples.
dude has a 2.77 career postseason ERA, i don’t see your point
swag – You’d have to watch the games, as numbers can be deceiving.
Did you watch last night’s game? The box score shows he pitched great, no earned runs in 6 2/3 innings …. but what it doesn’t show is this:
1) Cole’s failure to cover first base, costing a run
2) Cole giving up a 2-run line drive to Freeman
3) Cole giving up a 2-run double to Teoscar
Now do you understand why actually WATCHING the games is important?
His teammates really needed him to pick them up after the errors, but he failed miserably.
Judge dropped a routine fly ball, Volpe rushed the throw to third, and Rizzo had plenty of time to beat the runner when Cole didn’t cover first. Anyone blaming Cole for that meltdown of an inning is disingenuous at best
Ronk – Even if you want to close your eyes when Cole failed to cover first base, which every pitcher in that situation is supposed to do, who gave up the 2-run hits to Freeman and Teoscar in the same inning?
I’ll wait for you to figure it out.
Fever,
I respect your opinion but even with his warts, would you not want hi. if healthy on your roster? I would. That said, I don’t expect him to now opt out unless the medicals make it clear this year’s injury was an aberration and not something to worry about. Also, is he happy? The Yankees need a healthy Coke but if there is a concern about his health given their tax rate, they could let him walk.
dewey – Of course I would, at a much lower price. All I’m saying is he’s not a big game pitcher, he’s not a postseason hero. He had yet another meltdown last night. He has managed only 5 wins in 12 postseason starts with the NYY, and those 5 wins were all in the WC or ALDS.
Phil Coke retired in 2016 ;O)
I’m not a fan of the yanks but watched the game last night. Cole didn’t meltdown in the 5th last night; his fielders had the meltdown. The guy had to get 6 outs in the 5th; labored on the mound for 20+ minutes. Sure, he should have covered the bag at 1st but Rizzo should have easily made that play. Cole was a warrior on the mound last night. I’ll take him all day long. Maybe fans should point more fingers at Judge…definitely not Cole
The inning would have been over long before Freeman and Teoscar came around to bat if the defense behind Cole did their jobs. I get that you’re a Sox fan so you hate the Yankees and Cole in particular, but get real
Not to mention the mental and physical toughness to go back in and pitch the 6th and 2/3 into the 7th after that long 5th inning debacle.
Ronk – I don’t hate any team, and have often defended the Yankees as a team and individually.
I think you’re just being overly sensitive because I pointed out a deficiency with Cole. Again he’s a very good pitcher, but he has yet to prove he’s a big game pitcher.
Blaming the 5 runs on just Judge and Volpe is silly. If you want to play the “if game”, there’s so many additional things you could blame Cole for. He could have struck out Edman or Smith, he could have kept Kike closer to 2B which would have prevented Volpe from having to make a difficult throw, he could have not given up solid 2-run hits to Freeman and Teoscar. Great pitchers bail out their teammates when they make errors behind him, he is not a great pitcher. We saw that when he walked Devers intentionally.
Cole was a rock last night. His only real blunder was not covering first, but he should have been in the dugout eating his boogers ten minutes before that had his fielders actually done their job. He’s one of few pitchers contracted to a huge deal that is actually worth it. I’d be surprised if he opted out, but crazier things have happened. The Yankees have a few holes to fill, but Cole is not one of them.
Perksy – I understand the bar has been lowered significantly, but if you want to see real physical and mental toughness you need to watch pitchers like Eovaldi in the postseason.
I don’t see how correcting someone on their misinformed take is being sensitive. Cole only allowed one earned run over 12.2 innings in his two starts. He did his part in helping the team win. If the players around him had done their part, the Yankees would have a 3-2 lead in the series right now
He didn’t cover a bag. Maybe more cocky than meltdown but still the loss is his design
Ronk – Lots of players do their part to both win and lose in the same game.
You’re bashing Judge for his error, and yet you conveniently ignore his homerun and his spectacular catch earlier in the game. So Judge is no different than Cole, both did well at times and did poorly at times.
I’ve provided a ton of specific facts proving Cole could have won the game if he had performed better, and all you do is point fingers at Judge and Volpe and Wells for the errors. It’s a team game, you attempting to defend Cole while simultaneously bashing Judge, Volpe, Wells etc is ridiculous.
But hey, I hope you get your wish and the Yankees tack on the additional year to Cole’s contract. The more he pitches in the postseason, the better for all the other teams.
The Yankees defense crumbled so badly last night i thought i was watching a Sox game for minute.
As for Cole, i wouldn’t be surprised if he opts-out and i equally wouldn’t be surprised if the Yankees don’t trigger their option. If i were Cole I’d want out of the AL East just to not have to face Devers as much anymore
At this point I can’t tell if you’re being intentionally obtuse or you’re just not very bright. Judge was having a very good game before the error, and he’s my favorite player, that doesn’t excuse him dropping a ball that hit his glove. Volpe is a gold glove caliber SS who made an awful throw at the worst possible time, inexcusable. How many pitchers are going to get out of a jam unscathed when they’re forced to throw nearly 40 pitches in an inning and record 6 outs?
Cole is still one of, if not the best SP in the game who also has strong postseason numbers for his career, including this year. Anybody would want him on their team. I understand you’re a Red Sox fan so you wouldn’t know what a good SP looks like, but this is just sad on your end
@The McNasty1
Can’t help when your team’s defense gives the other team a bunch of extra outs to the other team. He was cruising along with a no-hitter against one of the best offenses in MLB today.
He’s going into the HOF when he retires. Hardly overrated.
Jacob deGrom was 4 years older. Hadn’t been healthy in 3 years and beat that contract. Cole could easily get a 4 year deal right now, for at least 160 million over those 4 years. Burns is the only top of the rotation starter, that’s going to be a FA
The best thing about the Dodgers winning is that they did it without Ohtani (2 for 15 to go along with a failed stolen base attempt, pathetic).
Guaranteed that the team resents him and doesn’t consider him to really be one of them and are happy that he fell on his face in the World Series so they could win it without him.
Bonus points that they won it without Kershaw- the very first year of his 15+ year career that he doesn’t play in the playoffs, they finally win a real World Series.
Ohtani was actually 2 for 19, not 2 for 15.
Hendu – There’s no chance guys like Mookie, Freeman and Teoscar are jealous of Ohtani.
Without Ohtani they might not even have made the playoffs.
You think Ohtani is resented by his teammates? Why would they resent him? What are you basing this on, your spine tingling feeling? All indications are that he’s universally liked by his current and former teammates.
you sound bitter and like a fool.
What are you on about? I can literally guarantee that every member of the Dodgers dugout wanted to see othani pop off.
You’re an idiot.
Yes, I’m sure they resent him for…
*checks notes*
…putting up an MVP caliber season and almost winning the Triple Crown.
I’m thinking not having Kershaw and Kelly actually helped them. It forced Roberts to rely on others in key moments.
There maybe something to the Kershaw argument but not the Ohtani one. Keeping in mind that Ohtani played the last 3 games of the series with a separated shoulder his presence at the top of the lineup still made the lineup better than if someone like Chris Taylor were DH’ing instead
‘yankee fan today tomorrow forever’ opting out is an interesting story line to follow
rolder – Yeah I don’t see it happening, not just for that reason but because he didn’t have a great season and there’s health questions now with him.
Yeah, I don’t see it happening. Hard to see Cole (34yo) exceeding the guaranteed $144mil especially when looking at last year’s FA market.
Nola (31yo): 7y/$172
Snell (31yo): 2y/$62
Gray (34yo): 3y/$75
If Cole tries to extort another year out of the Yankees they should just let him walk. He won’t cover first base now what makes anyone believe he will in five years?
Wait, so Judge and Volpe pull Billy Buckners and you are blaming Cole. They were all unearned runs and Cole was the only pitcher the Dodgers didn’t really hit!
I don’t know if Cole even beats the runner there by b the time he realizes play was a bit off the bag. Rizzo on the other hand still had time to make it to the bag when he looked up and realized he couldn’t toss the ball those few feet.
Can Cole beat that? I wouldn’t bet on it.
Agree. $36M a year for 4 years beginning with his age 34 season. Yankees have the option of adding another $36M for his age 38 season. I can certainly see the Yankees paying for that, but I cannot see Cole bettering this deal on the open market. If Cole opts out, and the Yankees decline the option, I think Cole will end up with a lesser contract in terms of AAV.
I love Cole’s pitching; but I think he should be allowed to go elsewhere. I’m of the mindset the Yankees need to reset their roster and dump as many large salaries as possible, and dump the managerial and coaching staff.
I’ve said a million times that the Yankees cannot win with Boone/Cashman tandem. No reason to try again with the same team (if they can get Soto), but an older version.
Simply put: Yankees cannot improve with the way they handle offseasons now. It would necessitate two-to-three big acquisitions. It won’t happen.
With all the vacancies upcoming due to free agency the Yankees still have 200mil in payroll obligations.
If Cole walks that frees up some money.
Still they have 5 positions to fill and possibly one of those postions (RF) may cost them 70 million a year alone.
Hard to see if they resign Soto and fill the 1b 2b, 3b and LF vacancie, them being under 400 mil.
Problem is, a retool is out of the question with the money they have in the books, with
Judge,Stanton,Rodon.
And having Cashman run a small rebuild is a scary thought.
Brian is way past his prime as a GM, if there ever was a prime.
Chisholm will either be playing 3rd or 2nd for the next two years. Dominguez will be in the OF. 1B shouldn’t be expensive.
Soto is an issue, but they can easily keep this team under $300M.
As Casey Stengel used to say, you can never have enough pitching. They are better off without Soto than Cole.. They can sign 3 great players for the price of signing Soto! Cole is a Hall of Fame pitcher who loves the Yanks, last night’s game was a heart breaker for him.
The best pitcher in the world is playing in Mexico and is available for league minimum.
Pass
Yep, but as long as Manfred is in charge, Bauer will never be on an MLB squad again.
EH, you mean the guy that threw a baseball over the CF fence instead of giving it to his manager while being pulled from the game?
Hendu – I really don’t think Yoan Lopez, Fernando Abad or Neftali Feliz is the best pitcher in the world.
Lol, he isn’t even close to the best pitcher. Any AA pitcher could dominate there, which was about the equivalent of beer league softball. 87 year old Robinson Cano hit over .400 there……
There is a reason he’s in Mexico.
Cole’s K rate has dropped the last two years, which is often a warning sign for an aging power pitcher. If he opts out, an argument can be made to let him leave. They got his best years and they can now move on. Counter argument is he’s changed his pitching approach the last two years, which is why his K rate is down, yet he remains a successful pitcher. He’s already made the transition that will carry him through being a successful pitcher in his mid and late 30s.
They could let him leave and target Burnes, but I’m not convinced Burnes will be better over the next five years, even though he’s younger.
I’d let him leave and use the money to fix other areas, but I’ll be fine if he returns. He’ll be back.
I don’t think Cole opts out simply because he’ll never beat the contract he has now…not after this season and being a 34yo. But if it’s not about the money to him, and he just wants out of NY and to return to his native CA, I can see it happening and the Dodgers going after him. Kershaw probably retires after the year he’s had too, so they can shell out for a “need”.
Dodgers-centric thoughts: did Flaherty’s postseason drop him from the top Burnes-Snell-Fried FA tier? Did Buehler’s postseason push him up to mid-tier (possible QO and/or long-term deal)? Have Pages/Outman shown enough to prevent a Teoscar re-signing?
This was the year to get the Dodgers, moving forward with guys like Glasnow, Stone, and Ohtani coming back to the rotation will make them unbeatable. Let’s face it, Freddie and Mookie are both Hall of Famers who show up big time in the playoffs, and then theirs the unicorn
If I were the NYY, I wouldn’t think twice. Tell him to test the market, and then see if you want to match. He’s a very good pitcher in decline. I’d be shocked if anyone offered him the $144M/4 that he is due.
NYM could easily do that and not bat an eye. Talking about an easy route for the Mets to take some of the NYY allure away from them. The tourists just need bodies at NYY games to be entertained.
I am in no way a fan of the Yankees. No offense to you that are, and not a fan of Cole. Once again offense, however if your first baseman had to go to his right to field a ball in my opinion it should be the responsibility of the pitcher to cover first. That play as well as the misplay by Judge gave the Dodgers momentum. In the World Series momentum can be everything.
Judge and Volpe errors were huge, as bad a Buckners error against the Mets. All the runs were unearned. Cole made the Cardinal sin for pitchers by not covering first, but Rizzo should have been able to make that play unassisted
slider – I agree with everything you wrote. Since you brought up ’86, it’s kinda the same situation …… people can point all they want to Buckner’s blunder (never should have been on the field, but anyhoo ….) but what people don’t realize is that error wasn’t the end of the series. The Red Sox had one more game, they were leading 3-0 in the 6th inning of Game 7, and they still blew it.
Both Cole and the ’86 Red Sox had plenty of other chances after a little bad luck, but they both failed miserably.
That play at first was quite strange and it definitely sticks out as a major turning point in that game. Cole absolutely should have covered and Rizzo should have anticipated that perhaps he would need to take it himself. Rizzo almost seemed stunned.. he didn’t even make an attempt for a mad dash to the base. Very odd looking play.
Either way.. even if the Yankees won game 5, they were almost certainly losing the series.
Cole will opt out and the Yankees will offer the 5th year. It’s not even a question.
Cole decision is just one of many. How much effort, if any, do the Yankees put into retaining Soto? Does Boone’s option get picked up? Do they pick up Rizzo’s $17M option or buy him out for $6M? If Boone is sent packing I see them signing Skip Schumaker immediately