Gerrit Cole picks Yankees over 'mystery team(s)'

Gerrit Cole

When we last talked on this blog, I predicted free agent pitcher Gerrit Cole would get an eight-year deal in the $320 million range. I wasn't accurate, but I wasn't ridiculously off the mark, either.

Cole on Tuesday agreed to terms with the New York Yankees on a nine-year, $324 million contract that is the most expensive deal ever signed by a pitcher.

I had a feeling this news was going to break before the Winter Meetings ended. Why? Because I was seeing tweets from MLB Network's Jon Heyman on how "mystery teams" had entered the negotiations for Cole.

That, of course, was complete baloney. Scott Boras, who is the agent for Cole and many other top players, always claims that a "mystery team" is involved when he's nearing the completion of a deal.

It's a negotiating tactic to get one more year, or maybe an extra $10 million, for his client from whatever team the player is going to sign with.

You would think by now clubs would be on to this, but not really. They just pay up and give Boras what he wants. I literally started laughing when I read about Cole and the mystery teams.

Those mystery teams would be the Yankees, the Yankees and the Yankees. He was never going anywhere else. Since when has a Boras client signed with a "mystery team"?

Stephen Strasburg back to Nationals on seven-year, $245 million contract

Stephen Strasburg

When Stephen Strasburg opted out of his contract at the end of the 2019 season, he had four years and $100 million remaining on his deal with the Washington Nationals.

After going through the free agency process, the World Series MVP essentially got a three-year extension worth $145 million. Pretty good if you can get it, huh?

Strasburg, 31, on Monday agreed to terms with the Nationals on a seven-year, $245 million contract that will take him through his age-37 season. The deal was the biggest news from the first day of the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

The right-hander, who was considered the second-best available pitcher on the free agent market, went 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA in 33 starts for the Nationals in 2019. He followed that up by becoming the first pitcher to win five games in the same postseason, going 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in six October games (5 starts).

Strasburg was the winning pitcher in both Game 2 and Game 6 of the World Series, both on the road against the Houston Astros.

This deal is worth $35 million annually, and you can't help but wonder what this means for the top free agent pitcher on the market, right-hander Gerrit Cole.

Word is the New York Yankees offered this same deal -- seven years, $245 million -- to Cole over the weekend. That looks a little light now, considering that Cole, 29, is two years younger than Strasburg.

The guess here is Cole gets an eight- or nine-year deal from somebody, and it wouldn't be shocking if his contract has a $40 million AAV. I'm thinking this is going to end with him getting an eight-year deal somewhere in the $320 million range.

For now, Strasburg's contract is the largest ever handed out to a pitcher. But he'll probably hold that distinction for only a short time. Cole may sign before the Winter Meetings are over Thursday.

And, no, I still don't believe for one second that the White Sox will be bidding on Cole. Maybe Sox fans will get some coal in their stocking this Christmas, but I'm not expecting any Gerrit Cole in Chicago -- except as a member of a visiting team in 2020.

Worthwhile read on former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks

Bobby Jenks

Former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks lost his career, his marriage and almost lost his life to a botched back surgery and an addiction to painkillers.

Jenks talked about his troubles, which occurred in 2011-12 when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox, in a first-person article this week for The Players' Tribune.

It appears that things are much better for Jenks now, as he received a $5.1 million settlement from the hospital that botched his back surgery.

Jenks has been sober for more than seven years, but that will be an ongoing battle for him for the rest of his days. He's also speaking out to draw attention to the practice of concurrent surgeries, which he says led to his doctor screwing up his back.

The article is lengthy, but it's worth your time, when you have the time. I found it to be a nice break from reading about offseason free agency rumors.

White Sox announce players and prospects scheduled to attend SoxFest 2020

The White Sox on Thursday announced a preliminary list of players and prospects who will attend SoxFest 2020.

The event is scheduled for Jan. 24-25 at McCormick Place West.

The list of current players includes pretty much everyone fans would want to see: Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Lucas Giolito, Yasmani Grandal, James McCann, Tim Anderson, Michael Kopech, Dylan Cease, Aaron Bummer, Zack Collins, Leury Garcia, Evan Marshall and Danny Mendick.

The list of prospects includes the two big draws, Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal, both of whom will probably be in the big leagues before the All-Star break, if not before May 1.

Other prospects scheduled to attend include Andrew Vaughn, Steele Walker, Dane Dunning, Blake Rutherford, Luis Gonzalez, Tyler Johnson and Micker Adolfo.

You have to give Adolfo some credit. He's played only 379 games in the six years he's been in the organization, yet he still seems to be considered a good enough prospect to earn an invite to SoxFest every year.

Robert, Madrigal and Rutherford have been at SoxFest in years past, but it will be a first-time experience for Vaughn, Walker, Dunning, Gonzalez and Johnson.

There will be more "special guests" coming to this event, and more information will be announced in early January, according to a news release from the Sox.

Former White Sox catcher Omar Narvaez traded to Milwaukee

Omar Narvaez

The Milwaukee Brewers moved to fill a hole at catcher Thursday, acquiring former White Sox backstop Omar Narvaez from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitching prospect Adam Hill.

Yasmani Grandal was Milwaukee's primary catcher last season, and obviously, he is now with the Sox. Enter Narvaez, 27, who is coming off a stunning offensive year with the Mariners in 2019.

In 132 games and 428 at-bats with Seattle, Narvaez batted .278/.353/.460 with 22 home runs and 55 RBIs. I never anticipated that kind of power coming from Narvaez's left-handed bat -- over parts of three seasons in Chicago he totaled 12 home runs in 634 at-bats.

Maybe this power surge from Narvaez can be attributed to the juiced ball, but he did hit 20 of his 22 home runs and had an .836 OPS against right-handed pitching last year, so the Brewers are hoping he'll be the left-handed half of a productive platoon with Manny Pina.

I don't envy the Milwaukee pitchers, however, because Narvaez is a huge defensive downgrade from Grandal by any measure. Narvaez's -20 defensive runs saved ranked second-worst among MLB catchers in 2019, and he threw out only 18 percent of would-be basestealers.

Over the past five years, the Sox have had their share of catchers who give away strikes, but perhaps none were worse framers than Narvaez. He's among the worst I've seen in that area.

But, Narvaez was the fourth-best catcher in baseball in terms of weighted runs created plus (119), and he wasn't too far behind Grandal (121) in that area.

The Brewers need to hope Narvaez keeps knocking balls over the fence to make up for his lackluster defense.

White Sox swing and miss on Zack Wheeler, Cole Hamels

Zack Wheeler

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has said the team intends to sign two free agent starting pitchers this offseason. However, two pitchers the Sox were linked with signed elsewhere Wednesday.

Zack Wheeler agreed to a five-year, $118 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, while Cole Hamels joined the Atlanta Braves on a one-year, $18 million deal.

According to a tweet from MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Wheeler was the Sox's top target in terms of starting pitchers. Apparently, the Sox front office doesn't believe it can land either Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg, the two elite aces on the market, so the Sox set their sights on the best pitcher in the "second tier" of available starters.

That would be Wheeler, but as per usual, the Sox are the bridesmaid and not the bride. The Phillies beat out the Sox, the Minnesota Twins, the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers in this pursuit.

According to a tweet from MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal, the Sox's offer to Wheeler was for *more* than $118 million, but Wheeler's wife is from New Jersey and proximity was important.

OK, not sure if I buy that. It's all speculation, but for me as a Sox fan, the bottom line is the Hahn regime continues to come up short far more times than not, and the team still has much to prove in terms of its commitment to winning.

As for Hamels, just days ago he was on the White Sox Talk podcast with NBC Sports Chicago's Chuck Garfien to express his interest in possibly coming to the South Side.

Instead, Hamels will be headed to Atlanta. This loss isn't as big of a deal for the Sox, but let's be honest, Hamels would have been a nice fit as a veteran left-hander in the middle or the back of the rotation.

If the Sox are not in on Cole or Strasburg, and we have to assume they are not until proven otherwise, where does the team go from here? Do they pursue Madison Bumgarner? Dallas Keuchel? Someone else?

The Sox front office continues to earn skepticism from me. I'm not convinced they are going to land the two starting pitchers they need. C'mon, guys, prove me wrong.

White Sox sign James McCann to one-year deal, clear more roster space

James McCann

The White Sox on Monday agreed to terms with catcher James McCann on a one-year, $5.4 million contract.

McCann, 29, had the best season of his career with the Sox in 2019. He batted .273/.328/.460 with 26 doubles, 18 home runs, 60 RBIs and 62 runs scored in 118 games. McCann made the All-Star Game for the first time in his career, and Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito credited McCann's leadership and game preparation in helping him have a breakout season on the mound.

While McCann played well, that didn't stop Sox management from signing Yasmani Grandal to a four-year, $73 million contract last month. With the addition of Grandal, the Sox are guarding against any regression that McCann may have in 2020 -- McCann is a lifetime .247/.328/.460 batter.

With this move, you figure the Sox are set at catcher. For the first time in a long time, they have two competent players ready to man the position.

McCann will become a free agent when the 2020 season ends.

Here are the tender/non-tender decisions

The Sox on Monday also tendered contracts to utility player Leury Garcia and pitchers Carlos Rodon, Alex Colome and Evan Marshall.

Second baseman Yolmer Sanchez and pitchers Caleb Frare and Ryan Burr were non-tendered. Pitcher Thyago Vieira was granted his release, so that he can pursue an opportunity to play in Japan.

These moves reduce the Sox's roster from 40 to 36, and hopefully, a couple of those spots will be used on free agent starting pitchers in the weeks to come.