Assuming that Astros‘ management and Gerrit Cole don’t construct a multi-year deal, they will be stating their cases before a three-person arbitration panel. With Scott Boras being his agent, the odds of a long-term deal aren’t good. They will most likely win their arbitration case and go for the one-year contract, then go for the big money in free agency in 2020.
Cole filed for a salary of $13.5 million, while the Astros countered with $11.425 million for 2019, a difference of $2.075 million. The panel will decide on one figure or the other, based on the salaries of comparable pitchers, there is no middle of the road.