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Texas Rangers: Seven stars of interest in the 2020 free agent class

By Travis Koch

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 15, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 15: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 15, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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Texas Rangers
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 14: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Gerrit Cole

Cole pitched great in his first five big league seasons, but he was outstanding in his most recent one. Joining the Houston Astros in 2018, Cole contributed a 15-5 record, backed by a 2.88 ERA.

His strikeouts were way up from previous years. 276 was the mark in ’18, 74 more K’s than his previous best season total. He averaged 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings and less than one home run allowed per nine innings.

Cole is still in the arbitration phase of his contract. Like Arenado, he was not satisfied with his team’s offer this period. As mentioned by Climbing Tal’s Hill, the star pitcher filed for $13.5 million to avoid arbitration; however, the Astros filed for $11.425 million.

If he comes close in 2019 to what he did in 2018, Gerrit Cole will earn a boatload of money next offseason. He would be a wonderful ace for a club headquartered a few hours northwest from his current home.

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