MLB Rumors: Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon Could Leave World Series Teams

Stephen Strasburg won the 2019 World Series MVP award, winning two games for the Washington Nationals. Anthony Rendon was arguably the second-most important player for the MLB champions. Gerrit Cole pitched a gem for the Houston Astros in Game 5, solidifying his spot as the best pitcher in baseball.

And there’s a chance all three of those players will be on new teams next season.

Neither Cole nor Rendon is under contract, potentially set to sign historic deals in free agency. Strasburg can opt-out of the final four years and $100 million that he has left on his contract.

It’s unlikely that none of those superstars will return to one of the pennant winners. Could two of them head elsewhere? That’s a real possibility.

Strasburg is the most likely to stay. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported shortly before Game 1 of the World Series that the feeling around baseball is agent Scott Boras will leverage his client’s option into a one or two-year extension.

Clayton Kershaw was in a similar position last year after he helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a second straight World Series appearance. Instead of opting out of the two years and $65 million left on his contract, Kershaw avoided free agency and inked a new three-year, $93 million deal.

The Nationals gave Patrick Corbin a six-year, $140 million contract last offseason. Strasburg is a year older than his teammate with a history of injuries, but he did lead the NL with 209 innings pitched in the 2019 season. He’s never posted an ERA north of 3.74 in any season, and he’s among the best big-game pitchers with a 1.46 ERA in 55.1 career playoff innings.

Cole certainly proved himself to be a great playoff performer with a 1.72 ERA in five starts this past postseason. With over 200 innings pitched and an ERA well below 3.00 in each of the last two years, the 29-year-old will probably command the largest contract for any pitcher in MLB history.

David Price holds the record for total contract worth with a seven-year, $217 million deal. Zack Greinke’s $34.3 million average salary is tops among pitchers.

Maybe Houston will meet Cole’s demands after losing in the World Series. That price tag could ultimately be too high for the Astros, who already owe Justin Verlander and Greinke a combined $119 million over the next two seasons.

It’s a safe bet that Cole won’t be giving Houston any kind of a discount. The Cy Young candidate reportedly told an Astros’ spokesperson that he’s no longer an “employee of the team” when asked to speak with the media after Game 7.

There are rumors that Cole prefers to play on the West Coast, where he grew up and went to college. The Los Angeles Angels might be the best fit. The team needs pitching and continues to miss the playoffs in Mike Trout’s prime.

The New York Yankees need starting pitching and can certainly afford Cole. They would become the clear AL favorites by adding Cole to their rotation. New York’s unwillingness to pay pitchers big money in recent years, however, could keep Cole out of pinstripes.

Rendon’s future might be the most difficult to predict. Washington would like to retain him after letting Bryce Harper walk in free agency a year ago. The Washington Post reported that Rendon rejected a seven-year contract worth between $210-$215 million at the end of the regular season.

Nolan Arenado signed an eight-year, $260 million extension with the Colorado Rockies in February. That could be the starting point in negotiations with Washington’s star third baseman.

Rendon led the majors with 126 RBI in the regular season and 15 RBI in the postseason. He will likely finish third in the 2019 NL MVP voting after hitting .319/.412/.598.