The 2019 MLB season is officially over, as the Nationals defeated the Astros in Game 7 to capture their first World Series title.
And now Gerrit Cole is officially a free agent.
Cole fully recognized that fact after suffering a loss at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday night. The media wanted to talk to Cole after the game, and he was reportedly hesitant to speak after saying this...
"Do I have to do it? Technically, I'm unemployed," Cole said. He also added, "It was a pleasure to play in Houston."
For Yankees fans, that is music to their ears. The taste of losing the World Series probably added to that moment, but Cole seems fully prepared to become the biggest free agent prize this winter.
SNY's Andy Martino reported earlier this month that the Yankees will go after Cole, though it could be a longshot. There have been reports swirling around that Cole, despite growing up a Yankee fan, wants to pitch on the west coast again as he did with his UCLA Bruins.
There is also the fact that Cole will get a big payday when he eventually signs before the new season. One MLB executive told Martino that he could garner a deal worth $33-35 million a season over seven years. That would be the biggest deal shelled out to a starter in MLB history, and Cole definitely deserves it.
Whether or not GM Brian Cashman will be allowed to write that check -- or want to for that matter -- is still unknown.
At the moment, Vegas odds have the Angels -- now led by Joe Maddon -- as the favorites for Cole at +300. Then, it is the Phillies at +400 coming in second, with another new manager in former Yankee skipper Joe Girardi at the helm. The Yankees are third with +450 odds followed by the Rangers (+600) and Dodgers (+800).
So the race starts now to see who will get Cole's services in the 2020 season. Being the top three in odds is always a good start, but once the GM and Winter Meetings commence, we might get a better sense as to the direction Cashman the Yankees want to take in bolstering the roster.
They're ready to make some changes. And Cole seems to be ready as well.