HOUSTON — Once the World Series concludes the World Series of poker begins — the high-stakes game to land an ace: Gerrit Cole.
With apologies to Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg and Madison Bumgarner, etc… Cole’s free agency will loom largest this offseason. You can find executives who believe no starter has ever been as well positioned to land a record payday. Cole is in his prime (29), durable, postseason tested and the darling of both the scouting and analytic universes.
He will exceed Dave Price’s $217 million for most ever bestowed a pitcher and Justin Verlander’s $33 million for most given annually.