Now that the season is over, I see that Cole has already opted out. I'm sure the Yankees will throw another hundred million at him, but I feel like this is their chance to get out of what will soon become a bad contact. It's been a fairly good contract so far, but he's getting older and will probably start having more injuries.

Who are the names you are looking at this winter? Bregman is really the only other name I've paid attention. I've got mixed feelings on if I want the Astros to resign him. I like him, but I just can't see him being worth the amount he's going to command.

Wacha had a pOpt for $16M. KC just announded a 3yr/$51 deal that sets $18M for '25 and '26

Wacha will earn $18 million in both 2025 and 2026, and $14 million in 2027 with performance bonuses that can push that to $18 million, per source. The club option for 2028 is worth $14 million. https://t.co/OFf43kZL4p

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) November 3, 2024

Options have until 5pm ET Monday, to be decided/declared.

Eovaldi has a $20M pOpt for '25. I believe there is a $2M buyout. Expectations are that he won't exercise. He is a priority for CY. I think he will get a 3yr deal, probably a little higher than Wacha.

There are many Innings guys available. Heaney, Lance Lynn, and Lyles (all 33'ish) among them, that could soften the market.

Cards declined options on Lynn and Lyles in the $11-12M range.

Roki Sasaki, IMO, is a starting point for what could be one of the biggest signings.

If you are unfamiliar, he is a SP from Japan who has asked the Chiba Lotte Marines to post him, even though he is not eligible. Like Ohtani, he would only be eligible for Int'l Pool signing money and then be under team control for 6 years. Chiba Lotte is not required to Post him, unless he was able to get that included in his contract (something Ohtani was able to do).

If you aren't following him.. you'll miss a huge player.

Max Fried will get rich

.

We'll know more today when the Option period ends.

I follow more on the SP side. Here was an article I found that was interesting. I've listed the T10SP and you can go read the details about them.

https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/2025-mlb-free-agent-rankings-top-10-starting-pitchers/650366/

1. Corbin Burnes (RHP-30): 31GS, 2.95, 1.11, 189.1 IP, 172 SO < Orioles
2. Gerrit Cole (RHP-34): 17GS, 3.41, 1.13, 95 IP, 99 SO <Yankees: Opted-out of pOpt
3. Blake Snell (LHP-32): 20GS, 3.12, 1.05, 104 IP, 145 SO <Giants: Opted-out of pOpt
4. Max Fried (LHP-31): 28GS, 3.42, 1.195, 165.2 IP, 157 SO <Braves
5. Jack Flaherty (RHP-29): 28GS, 3.17, 1.07, 162 IP, 194 SO <Dodgers
6. Nathan Eovaldi (RHP-35): 28GS, 3.96, 1.12, 163.2 IP, 161 SO <Rangers: $20M pOpt decision today
7. Sean Manaea (LHP-33): 31GS, 3.29, 1.06, 178 IP, 183 SO < Mets
8. Michael Wacha (RHP-33): 28GS, 3.28 ERA, 1.19, 161.2 IP, 143 SO <Royals: Signed 3yr/$51M
9. Luis Severino (RHP-31): 31GS, 3.97, 1.24, 182 IP, 161 SO < Mets
10. Yusei Kikuchi (LHP-33): 32GS, 4.05, 1.20, 175.2 IP, 206 SO < Astros

Honorable mentions: Shane Bieber, Matthew Boyd, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Walker Buehler, Charlie Morton, Clayton Kershaw, Alex Cobb, Jose Quintana, Nick Pivetta, Andrew Heaney, Michael Lorenzen, Nick Martinez, Martin Perez.


Last year, the Cardinals struck early and often to fill their needs. It is common for Boras to hold off signing SPs in order to get teams desperate. Cards chose to not go after the Top SPs and fill their needs with players who were affordable bargains.

I think the T4 will take some time to get signed. Flaherty is a mystery, to me. The bottom of the list will likely go quickly to get ahead of things, with the exception of Manaea... he could be lumped in with the T4 that take longer.

There are several Japanese options. If Sasaki gets posted, he is #1, then there are a variety of others.

Rangers had 3 guys I'm watching: Heaney, Lorenzen, and Urena.

For the non-Rangers fans:
Heaney is one CY is targeting with Eovaldi. Clubhouse veterans that CY and Bochy trust... mentor the younger guys... and of course central to the WS win.

Lorenzen is a personal favorite. He has been looking for a multi-year deal. He could end up in KC or Texas and could be "affordable" given multi-years.

Urena was once a ToTR type SP... had hip (IIRC) injury and struggled to return. He showed well for the Rangers and played the coveted role of "whatever you ask me to do." BP guy... moved to rotation... back to the BP. Could give you 3-4 IP out of the BP, or stretch out to a SP. I doubt he gives you 150 IP in '25, but on a multi-year deal, could find himself in the rotation and top that in '26.

DallasAg 94 said:

---

7. Sean Manaea (LHP-33): 31GS, 3.29, 1.06, 178 IP, 183 SO < Mets
...
9. Luis Severino (RHP-31): 31GS, 3.97, 1.24, 182 IP, 161 SO < Mets

---

Jon Heyman reporting both got $21.05M QOs from the Mets.

I would be surprised if either accepted.

Looks like Cole opted back in and is staying with the Yankees

The Yankees had an Option... that if Cole took his pOpt, they could add 1yr/$36M and negate his pOpt. Most think he triggered his pOpt to get that next year.

He is 34, and while he hasn't shown any slowing down, he is now owed 4yrs/$36Mper. They are $2.1M under the CBT.

The upside of winning the WS aside from the obvious, is there is little pressure to repeat.

The downside of losing the WS aside from the obvious, is pressure grows to win. If they don't sign Soto... or someone like Bregman... it will be seen as a step back. Now that they are in the CBT... if they sign Soto or Bregman, it will be a long-term requirement.

Dodgers project to pay over $70M just in CBT Tax for '24. They are projected at $35M over the '25 CBT Threshold already and that equates to $32M in Tax, as a 4th time offender.