What If Cole Is Too Expensive?

[VariousCrap]

We all want Cole and it can be argued that no team needs Cole more than the Angels do, but what if Eppler decides Cole's price is just too damn high?  There are other ways to go.

Would you be content if the Angels ended up signing Wheeler, Ordorizzi and Grandal instead of Cole?

Or

Would you be content if the Angels ended up signing Wheeler, Ordorizzi, Hamels and a catcher like Maldonado?

 

While I believe this is the season Arte needs to go the Dodger route and exceed the competitive balance tax to address every need this team has to make them competitors in 2020; the chances of him actually doing that are most likely very low.

[Torridd]

I'd love Cole, but any of your options would make me happy.

[Angelsfan1984]

Maybe they should just sign Cole, Strasburg, Wheeler, Rendon and Grandal so that we can just buy our tickets for the parade.

[Justin]

Refusing to overpay for Cole in the same decade they overpaid for Pujols, Hamilton, and Upton would depress me. I would try to convince myself to be be happy with either of your alternate scenarios, but I know I would be disappointed. Especially when Cole then ends up with the Dodgers or Yankees. 

[NJHalo]

I prefer not to overpay for Cole, and use that money to sign Wheeler, Odorizzi, and a 5th starter/bullpen help. Cole’s contract will end up being the next one that sandbags the team in it’s latter years. We have had enough of that. 

[VariousCrap]

1 hour ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Maybe they should just sign Cole, Strasburg, Wheeler, Rendon and Grandal so that we can just buy our tickets for the parade.

[VariousCrap]

26 minutes ago, NJHalo said:

I prefer not to overpay for Cole, and use that money to sign Wheeler, Odorizzi, and a 5th starter/bullpen help. Cole’s contract will end up being the next one that sandbags the team in it’s latter years. We have had enough of that. 

That mentality will mean never signing any major free agent again even if they are completely worth it.  At Cole's current age, even if he signed a seven year deal, you have to figure he will be produce like a top of the rotation type of guy for at least five of those years.  He isn't Hamilton or Pujols.

[tdawg87]

33 minutes ago, NJHalo said:

I prefer not to overpay for Cole, and use that money to sign Wheeler, Odorizzi, and a 5th starter/bullpen help. Cole’s contract will end up being the next one that sandbags the team in it’s latter years. We have had enough of that. 

Yeah hopefully Arte never signs an impact free agent ever again.

[Angel Oracle]

Hamilton and Pujols both had things to be concerned about with long term deals.   

Hamilton showed signs of regressing to his former ways in his later Texas days.   

Pujols has always had that exaggerated crouch at the plate, which combined with his weight = bad knees and feet waiting to happen. 

Cole has a solid delivery and health, and no real prior health/injury issues.

Edited October 24, 2019 by Angel Oracle

[Dtwncbad]

When somebody shows me a less “expensive” way to secure a pitcher like Cole, then maybe I can view the free agent cost as too expensive.

[Claude]

I think Cole is a tremendous talent. He’s the best pitcher in baseball. I just find it odd that he would openly tell the media that he wants to play on the west coast while he was participating in a serious championship run with the Astros. I just think he should’ve waited until after the playoffs were over before talking about his desired location. It’s kinda disrespectful to the Astros fan base IMHO. 

[tdawg87]

2 minutes ago, Calzone 2 said:

I think Cole is a tremendous talent. He’s the best pitcher in baseball. I just find it odd that he would openly tell the media that he wants to play on the west coast while he was participating in a serious championship run with the Astros. I just think he should’ve waited until after the playoffs were over before talking about his desired location. It’s kinda disrespectful to the Astros fan base IMHO. 

Cole hasn't openly said anything. His teammates did. And Fletcher did.

[floplag]

Well he will be, thats a given.  
Ive also mentioned this and part of me wonders if maybe going after for example Wheller and Odorizzi plus some bats might be a better option.
But... this club needs an ace so... i think they need to pony up.

[Bronson]

This is moot because for better or for worse we all know Arte is gonna pay whatever he has to to get Cole. 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

5 hours ago, VariousCrap said:

We all want Cole and it can be argued that no team needs Cole more than the Angels do, but what if Eppler decides Cole's price is just too damn high?  There are other ways to go.

Would you be content if the Angels ended up signing Wheeler, Ordorizzi and Grandal instead of Cole?

Or

Would you be content if the Angels ended up signing Wheeler, Ordorizzi, Hamels and a catcher like Maldonado?

 

While I believe this is the season Arte needs to go the Dodger route and exceed the competitive balance tax to address every need this team has to make them competitors in 2020; the chances of him actually doing that are most likely very low.

Arte should match every offer for Cole + 5%, must sign Cole.

Would you be content if the Angels ended up signing Wheeler, Ordorizzi and Grandal instead of Cole? NO!

Would you be content if the Angels ended up signing Wheeler, Ordorizzi, Hamels and a catcher like Maldonado?

NO!

Cole, Wheeler, and Grandal would be acceptable to me..

Strasburg, and Cole would be acceptable to me.

[Mark68]

Arte can--and should--be open to exceeding the CBT temporarily. Cozart comes off the books after 2020 & Pujols after 2021 (Simmons also comes off after 2020, but there may be an extension). So one, maybe two years over the CBT shouldn't cost too much. 

[rafibomb]

[rottiesworld]

 I wouldn't care with either option, but no to Maldonado. I want a catcher that can hit and provide some offense.

[Pancake Bear]

No one has a greater need than the Angels. They have plenty of room in the budget for a 35m contract (or more, theoretically)  if it comes to that. Unless some other team gets really stupid and offers an insanely high contract, there’s no reason they should be outbid. 

[Warfarin]

They have plenty of room to sign Cole.  The question is, beyond Cole, how much more is Arte willing to spend?

I suspect in the end, we'll see two significant moves, like Cole + Wheeler or Cole + Ryu.  I'd love Grandal too, but I doubt he'll spend what's needed for 3 moves (Cole, Wheeler, Grandal would probably cost 70mil AAV combined or so).

[Tank]

3 hours ago, Ace-Of-Diamonds said:

Arte should match every offer for Cole + 5%, must sign Cole.

I agree. Unless Cole wants 5 years/900 million, I don’t think he should be viewed as too expensive.

[zenmaster]

Let’s remember that having the money to sign him and actually signing him are two very different things. 

[UndertheHalo]

The Angels have failed to produce an ace.  They need one.  Aces cost a shit load.  I can accept them losing out on him but I’m not going to be butt hurt about them signing and doing what they have to in order to.   
 

that all said, I’d they signed like Wheeler and Odorizzi I think that’s still a good haul.  They’ll be back in the ace market again tho.  
 

also, I sincerely don’t see Martin Maldonado moving the needle in any meaningful way for the team.  Pointless. 

[Docwaukee]

the Angels can afford Cole.  

if you can afford 6/180, then you can afford 7/210 or even 7/231

It's not about affording it.  It's about accepting the consequences in year 7 instead of having the contract done after 6.  You know you are going to have to go at least 6 for him.  If you even bother with 5, you're stupid.  If you're worried about how that 37m of backloaded salary to a 35yo pitcher will impact your 2026 season then you shouldn't be trying to get Gerrit Cole.  

And he's not overpaid if the market determines his worth.  At least not yet.  We have no idea if he'll be overpaid until the contract is done.  Was Scherzer overpaid?  

If someone comes in at 40m per then let someone else pay that.  But if he's at 30-33 per year or so, or maybe even a little more, then have at it and worry about 2026 a few years from now.  

Also, would you spend an extra 3m per year on Cole in order to keep from having to trade Marsh for a pitcher?  

[Docwaukee]

Odorizzi has bust written all over him.  There, I said it.