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Minnesota Twins Free Agent Profile: Could the Twins actually land Gerrit Cole?

By Chris Schad

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts against the Washington Nationals in Game Five of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts against the Washington Nationals in Game Five of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 27, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 22: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros prepares to pitch against the Washington Nationals prior to the first inning in Game One of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 22: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros prepares to pitch against the Washington Nationals prior to the first inning in Game One of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 22, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

The cons of signing Gerrit Cole

There aren’t many negatives when it comes to the prospect of signing a pitcher in the prime of his career that just struck out 326 batters and is likely going to win a Cy Young award. When it comes to Cole’s on the field performance, there is nothing to suggest that he wouldn’t be a tremendous addition to a revamped Twins’ pitching rotation.

Where it could get messy is squeezing Cole into the Twins’ offseason plans. According to John Bonnes of Twins Daily, the Twins goal should be to acquire three pitchers at about $70 million this winter. If we use the projection of MLB Trade Rumors’ Tim Dierkes, who predicted that Cole will receive an eight-year, $252 million deal from the Los Angeles Angels, that would knock out $32 million of that cap, leaving less room to sign quality pitchers elsewhere in the rotation.

While baseball doesn’t have a salary cap, the Twins may be restricted in what they could offer Cole. If the number also rises up more toward the $40 million per year number, Cole’s price tag could really be pushed out of the Twins stratosphere.

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