MLB Predictions: Angels Sign Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg To Padres, Nationals Keep Anthony Rendon

Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon are the biggest free agents ahead of the 2020 MLB season. Cole is likely to break records with his new contract, while Strasburg and Rendon will become two of the highest-paid players in baseball on the heels of winning the 2019 World Series.

Where will Cole, Strasburg and Rendon land? Here are predictions for all three star players:

Gerrit Cole: Los Angeles Angels

The Angels have to do something as they continue to waste Mike Trout’s prime. One of the greatest players of all time just missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year because Los Angeles has surrounded him with a poor roster. The easiest way to improve the team is by grabbing the best pitcher in baseball.

Even after giving Trout a record contract, the Angels have money to spend. Nine teams are projected to have a higher 2020 payroll than Los Angeles, according to Spotrac. That includes the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, both of whom would have to go well above the $208 million luxury tax threshold to sign Cole. The Angeles can give the right-hander $35 million per season and still have a payroll well below $200 million.

Cole had an AL-best 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts before posting a 1.72 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP in 36.2 playoff innings. Los Angeles could have the AL MVP and Cy Young favorites on their roster with Cole and Trout under contract.

Stephen Strasburg: San Diego Padres

A.J. Preller might be under more pressure than any general manager in MLB. The Padres have never even won 75 games in five seasons with Preller at the helm. San Diego has a 13-year playoff drought after going 70-92 in 2019.

The Padres expected more than a four-win improvement when they gave Manny Machado a 10-year, $300 million contract last offseason. San Diego is ready to increase payroll in order to put a winner on the field, and adding a top-flight veteran starter might be the best way to do it. Of the seven Padres that made at least 12 starts in 2019, six had an ERA north of 4.00.

Strasburg has never had an ERA above 3.74 since making his MLB debut in 2019. He led the NL with 209 innings in the regular season before winning the World Series MVP award. Strasburg’s age and injury history will make him a cheaper option for San Diego than Cole.

Anthony Rendon: Washington Nationals

Fresh off their first championship in franchise history, Washington has to try and keep at least one of their big free agents. With Strasburg and Rendon both set to earn lucrative contracts, the third baseman might be the best bet to stay with the Nationals.

Washington already has plenty of money invested in the rotation. Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin own contracts that have a combined $53.3 million average annual value. Keeping Strasburg could push that number past $80 million for three-fifths of the rotation. The Nationals probably don’t want to let Rendon walk a year after Bryce Harper signed with one of their rivals. According to The Washington Post, the organization offered Rendon a deal worth close to $215 million in September.

Re-signing Rendon is less risky than keeping the oft-injured and older Strasburg, even it costs the Nationals more than the $260 million Nolan Arenado received from the Colorado Rockies early in 2019. The 29-year-old just set career-highs by hitting .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs. Rendon and Juan Soto could give Washington the NL’s best pair of hitters for years to come.