MLB free agency seems to be moving quicker this winter than in recent years, with the likes of Will Smith, Yasmani Grandal, Mike Moustakas, Cole Hamels and Zack Wheeler already finding new homes before the start of the annual Winter Meetings.
The biggest names are all still available, and perhaps no one is more sought after than Gerrit Cole. The right-hander is coming off a season in which he went 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA, 2.64 FIP and 0.90 WHIP in 33 starts with the Houston Astros, striking out an MLB-best 326 batters compared to 48 walks in 212.1 innings.
Cole is expected to sign perhaps the most lucrative contract for a starting pitcher in Major League history considering just about every team can use a hurler of his caliber.
Three teams seem to be vying for his services more than the others though as Cole and agent Scott Boras begin their free-agent meetings. According to Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times, Cole recently met with the Los Angeles Dodgers in addition to the L.A. Angels and New York Yankees:
Add Gerrit Cole to the growing list of premium free agents the Dodgers have secured face time with this offseason. The Dodgers met with the star right-hander, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, as they continue to evaluate their options to improve a roster coming off another disappointing finish. The Angels and New York Yankees reportedly have also met with Cole.
It is no secret the Dodgers are in search of pitching with the potential departures of Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill in free agency. If they are able to add Cole to a rotation that already features Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias, that could form perhaps the best starting unit in all of baseball.
The Yankees originally drafted Cole in the first round in 2008, but he instead decided to attend UCLA. They may offer him the largest contract this winter, although reports indicate they are worried the Newport Beach native prefers to return to the West Coast.
If that is the case then the Dodgers likely have the upper hand over the Angels considering the former gives him the opportunity to compete for a World Series right away, while the latter may still be a year or two away.
Regardless of if they manage to sign Cole, it seems that the Dodgers are actively involved with the biggest names this winter as they look to get back on track after a disappointing end to the 2019 season.
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