Mets potentially have another free agent pitcher to pursue: Gerrit Cole

With three starting pitchers who are now free agents and the Mets at least somewhat likely to use a 6-man rotation for Kodai Senga, the Mets need starters. It’s likely that at least one of the free agents returns for 2025. After that – who knows? The rumors have surrounded Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, the top two guys known to be available. But there’s another name to throw on the pile, as Gerrit Cole has opted out of his contract and might be available, too.

Cole’s contract gave him the right to opt out of his deal with the Yankees. But it also gave the Yankees a way to retain him, by extending his contract to 2029 with a $36 million extension. It’s an interesting contract wrinkle and now the ball is in the Yankees’ court. It’s very possible they will give Cole the extra year. It’s on the table that they let him walk, too.

The Yankees have to decide by tonight if they’ll extend Cole. Hopefully they don’t make a decision before this piece is finished.

Cole made just 17 starts last year in his age-33 season due to an elbow injury that sidelined him until the third week of June. He was not quite the same dominant pitcher as he was in 2023. Still, Cole posted a 121 ERA+ and had a 9.4 K/9 and a 2.7 BB/9. With the Mets needing pitchers who can throw strikes and handle postseason stress, Cole needs to be someone they consider.

Cole signed a 9/$324 deal with the Yankees prior to the 2020 season. His Dollar Values on FanGraphs exceeded his contract in both 2021 and 2023. Cole likely will seek a deal that pays him somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 million a year. He exceeded that value in both ’21 and ’23.

Prior to the elbow injury, Cole was as durable as they come. He made at least 30 starts in every full season from 2017-2023. And in the 60-game year of 2020, Cole made 12 starts, the equivalent of 32 over a full season.

We also need to mention Cole’s postseason resume. Lifetime, he has a 2.77 ERA in 133.1 IP in the playoffs. This year he made five starts in the postseason and allowed 7 ER in 29 IP for a 2.17 ERA. Cole made two starts against the Dodgers in the World Series and gave up 1 ER in 12.2 IP, with 4 BB and 10 Ks.

Age and his contract desires make Cole a risky signing. But there’s no denying that he’s been one of the best pitchers of his generation. Will the Mets’ recent experiences with older pitchers in Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander influence a potential Cole signing? And if it does – should it?

Cole is only one year older than Sean Manaea – who most Mets fans want to see return to Queens for 2025.

When Fred Wilpon owned the Mets, there seemed to be an unwritten rule that they would not compete with the Yankees for the top free agents. But it’s a different world under Steve Cohen. There seems little doubt that the Mets will pursue Juan Soto this offseason. And they might be a player for Cole, too.