The big kids are working at Starbucks with this morning, doing their homework to earn hot chocolates. They hate me right now, but I’m like, hey kids, this is the life of a blogger …
Gerrit Cole just keeps on being ridiculous, throwing 100 mph darts and absurd breaking stuff all night long, no matter the opponent. He’s going to get the largest free agent contract ever for a pitcher, so yeah, someone is paying well over $200 million for him.
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1180695610678300673
The Cubs should be among the many teams talking to Cole this offseason, but the team that ultimately gets him is going to have a huge contract tied to one arm. It’s a huge long-term risk, even for clubs that push the luxury tax boundary each year. I do understand that reality, and I swear I’m not losing sight of it when I discuss the Cubs and Cole, as I reckon I will a few times this offseason …
I’d never say the contract is a reason not to sign a guy, though, especially when you consider that of the three $200 million+ free agent pitching contracts, one was a steal (7/$210M for Max Scherzer, heavily deferred), one was decent (6/$206.5M for Zack Greinke), and one has been mixed (7/$217M for David Price). In other words, just because you commit an enormous sum to a pitcher doesn’t necessarily mean you’re making a huge mistake. You just need to make sure he’s a guy who is a very good bet to dominate early and then age reasonably well. At 29, even on an eight-year deal (what Cole will absolutely be seeking), you could see him remain physically dominant for the first half of that contract. And if he ages well, who knows? Maybe you just got Scherzer … but two years younger at the time of free agency.
Note that, at present, the Cubs have Cole Hamels hitting free agency, and 2020 could see all three of Jon Lester, Jose Quintana, and Tyler Chatwood hit free agency. You may or may not be predisposed to wanting to see the Cubs go after a massive starting pitcher contract, but I’m just saying: there’s a pretty obvious long-term fit there if the Cubs were inclined.
That Cole gem put the Astros up 2-0 on the Rays in their ALDS series. The Yankees, likewise, are up 2-0 over the Twins, and this moment pretty much sums up how that game went:
https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1180610246068191232
Bryan asks a good question here:
My answer is a sliding scale situation: it depends on what becomes available to the Cubs this offseason. If they land two really impactful relievers, then, OK, I’m comfortable saying the Cubs can fill the other six spots internally. If the Cubs can get three good external options, though? Do it. Figure out the fit later.
Local story season is fun:
https://twitter.com/RealCubsAnalyst/status/1180462479710806016
Patterson, 24, is such a unique guy in terms of his late amateur breakout, his limited pro experience, and having converted from the bullpen to the rotation this year, it’s hard to know what the Cubs have in him. But reaching AA in your first full pro season, dominating along the way? It’s pretty hard not to take notice. Really excited to see what he can do next year now that he’s settled in as a starter. He should open the year in the AA Tennessee rotation, with an outside chance of getting pushed to AAA by midseason if he’s ready.
Pillows, books, cameras, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon today.
This video is awesome and fun for all the obvious reasons, but can I just say the low-key best part is that Alonso still barrels EVERYTHING, regardless of how ridiculous the item? He’s still dead center/slightly below:
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1180531201070784514
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