Gerrit Cole

[footballfan1]

Offered 541,000.00  and signed after being told the organization would cut his salary to league minimum. 

 coming off a 2015 season that included his first All-Star nod, says he is disappointed by the contract he signed for the 2016 season.
Cole signed for $541,000 on Saturday, the same amount he made last year when he went 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA and finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting. His 2015 base salary was $531,000, and he earned $10,000 for making the All-Star team.
"When you perform at a level that draws the praise of management, teammates, coaches and fans, you expect appropriate compensation," Cole told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I understand the business of this game, but it is hard to accept that a year of performance success does not warrant an increase in pay."
Cole told the newspaper that club officials refused to go over $541,000 after making an original offer of $538,000, saying that was the most they could offer under the team's salary system for players who are not eligible for arbitration.
"They even threatened a salary reduction to the league minimum if I did not agree," Cole said.
Players with less than three years in the majors are obligated to accept the contract offered by the team, which can lower the offer if the player refuses to sign the deal. The major league minimum salary is $507,500.
Cole's agent, Scott Boras, was also outspoken about his client's salary.
"What kind of message does that send to players?" Boras told the Tribune-Review. "The best deserve the best. You should reward the best. I can't believe that is a [owner] Bob Nutting-approved [salary] system. It doesn't ring with the conversations Bob and I had when Gerrit signed."
Boras told the newspaper that he would expect to get Cole a salary in excess of $650,000 if he were pitching for other teams, adding "I would think Bob would want to reward a guy for a special performance."
The 25-year-old Cole has been limited by inflammation around a right rib that he suffered during a training session last month. He returned to throwing off a mound Wednesday.
Cole received an $8 million signing bonus after being drafted first overall by the Pirates in 2011.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[konjo78]

Hey ill take 500 thousand dollars a year!

[Crimson's Ghost]

Kind of a non-issue to me. It's in the CBA that the team can dictate the salary in years 0-3. He's not resigning in 2019 - it's only an issue because Boras made it one.

[Manfred]

I'm not a fan of any athlete making ungodly multi-millions in any sport.  That being said, I also feel you get paid what you've proven you're worth.  He's done it.  His contract is a joke.  10 K for making the all stars?  That should have a couple 0's tacked on the end just for that.  Broken down has-beens get multi millions in the last year or 2 of their careers, and aren't worth what Cole is.  Don't want to re-negotiate his contract?  Performance BONUS.  Doesn't have to be in print.  If they don't up the ante, be prepared to see him walk.  Same old, same old.

[Crimson's Ghost]

He's under contract, it's not really an issue. He signed an 8 million dollar signing bonus 3 years ago, I'm sure he's doing fine.


He's going to walk in 2019 and sign like a 7 year 240 million dollar deal or something.

[GetitRight]

Today's athletes are more apt to prove you wrong as an owner or a manager!!!  What is his incentive to win more games?  WIIFM..What is in it for me?  Cole will be lucky to win 10 games this year because his ego got bruised.  That being said....it was a non-issue...was...was..NOT...... it will be an issue  10-11 in 2016..Cole will say you got what you paid for!  July trade bait!!

[abpk2903]

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Cole making around 13% of the salary that Sean Rodriquez is earning in 2016?

I tend to side with the players when it comes to contracts. The way I look at it is the money is coming in no matter what they get paid. Would I rather the athlete that entertains me or the owner in the booth line their pockets. These owners are still making money so I feel they should pay the athletes that earn the money for the organization.  

[Crimson's Ghost]

I believe the Pirates admitted and corrected their error. Cole has money, and Cole is going to get money in 2019 if he performs well. So that's his incentive to pitch well this year, so he can be compensated in the manor he would like to down the line. 


He made 8 million dollars for being drafted high, he will make 500,000 for actually pitching in the majors off an all star season. Just sounds like the system is a little flawed. 

[konjo78]

Again i state. i think we'd all take 500k a year no problem. Rich people complaining about Rich people problems. Gotta love america some days.

[theoneandonly]

You would't take $500k a year if you were worth $5 million a year.