Pittsburgh Pirates Arbitration Breakdown: Gerrit Cole

In the coming weeks here at Rum Bunter we will be taking a look at each arbitration eligible player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. We finish today with Gerrit Cole.

As Major League Baseball’s offseason begins, so does the decision making inside each of the 30 front offices. A big part of this decision making revolves around players that are arbitration eligible. Due to that, here at Rum Bunter we will take a look at each arbitration eligible Pirate in the coming days.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have eight players that are arbitration eligible this offseason. Thus far we have looked at seven of them. However, we have saved the best for last.

Today we look at the best player that is arbitration eligible for the Pirates: ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. The 2016 season was a step backward for Cole. However, it was most due to injuries.

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Gerrit Cole went on the disabled list in August. He then returned for one start in September, which did not go well, and he then finished the season on the disabled list. Prior to getting hurt Cole was having another great season, though.

Before his elbow inflammation flared up in mid-August Cole was in the top five in the Majors in both ERA and FIP. Gerrit Cole was also on pace to set a new career high in innings pitched in 2016 before going on the disabled list. Cole will be due for a huge pay raise this offseason.

Gerrit Cole made the league minimum in 2016. This offseason is the first time in his career that he is arbitration eligible. Therefore, he will earn a huge pay raise this offseason.

MLB Trade Rumors projects Cole to earn 4.2 million dollars in 2017. Quite honestly, that is a bargain for Cole. Even during an injury riddled 2016 season Cole posted a 2.5 WAR. A 2.5 WAR makes him worth approximately 12.5 million dollars. So 4.2 million dollars is a real bargain.

Next: Reasons For Optimism

Gerrit Cole will earn a very nice, and well deserved, pay raise this offseason. It is his first year being arbitration eligible and he will earn a big pay raise over the league minimum he made in 2016. In a dream world the Pirates would work out an extension with their ace. Unfortunately, due to Scot Boras, this will not happen.

Previous arbitration breakdowns:

In the coming weeks here at Rum Bunter we will be taking a look at each arbitration eligible player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. We finish today with Gerrit Cole.

More from Rum Bunter

Schedule