On Tuesday, a contingent of Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone, and new pitching coach Matt Blake, met with Gerrit Cole out in California. According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the introductory meeting went well.
Yanks had “very nice” introductory meeting with Gerrit Cole yesterday. No $ specifically discussed. They are selling him on being a Yankee and winning. Also key: “the dollars will be there.” The Yankees believe he’d thrive in NY but also believe he may prefer LA.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 4, 2019
Additionally, Joel Sherman of the NY Post reported that the Yankees brass “felt a good rapport” with Cole. Sherman pointed out the fact that because the Yankees took the time to fly out West a week before the Winter Meetings are set to begin in San Diego, their interest is real and they’re not afraid to offer the kind of money Scott Boras and Cole are looking for.
However, there has been speculation that Cole, a native of Newport Beach, Calif., would prefer to play near his hometown, specifically with the Angels or Dodgers.
We heard this before with CC Sabathia, though, in 2008. Everyone thought that CC wanted to play in California since he grew up in the Bay Area. But the Yankees were aggressive in their pursuit, and they were able to sell CC on pitching in New York and what it could mean professionally and personally off the field for him and his family.
Of course, the largest pitching contract ever for a pitcher at the time didn’t hurt.
The Yankees are set to meet with Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday.
