Gerrit Cole doesn't sign with the Yankees. He and his dad say it wasn't about the money and was never about the money. He just decided he wanted to go to college (I think he's committed to playing for UCLA).
WTF???? What the hell is that? The kid and his dad are supposedly huge Yankees fans (I read he was actually allowed in the Yankees clubhouse during one game of the 2001 World Series and hung out with some of the players), he declares for the draft, is picked by his favorite team (to most, a dream come true) then out of the blue decides he wants to go to college? And forgo a signing bonus that was said to be anywhere in the 2-4 million dollar range? I can't believe this.
Bad move on this kid's part here. I'm not saying college isn't important, it is for most people - opportunity to go to school, mature and get yourself ready to start a career. Like I said, that's the plan for most people. This kid isn't "most people" however. 17 year old kid with a 98 mph fastball and a huge upside and big potential to be a ML baseball player one day. None of you can say that probably. I sure as hell can't say that. Now suppose this kid goes to play at UCLA and gets hurt? Then what? Remember Brien Taylor - well at least he committed to the Yankees and got his signing bonus before he got hurt. Or suppose he goes to college and doesn't perform as expected? Is that worth losing out on 2-4 million guaranteed? Bad move on this kid's part if you ask me - for a guy with extrodinary talent like he has, to not capitalize on it when given an opportunity to boggles my mind to no end. The Yankees would've picked up the tab if and whenever this kid ever wanted to go to school (say in the event that he was injuried) - that stuff's usually worked out in these type of contracts. Kid's taking a big risk if you ask me. And it's a terrible day for us - with big uncertainty involved in a lot of our young pitchers from Brackman on down, a lot of which are coming off TJ surgery, this kid was a welcome addition. Now he's gone just like that. I hope to God Boras didn't screw this up somehow. I just don't see how Cole and his father just completely change their tune like that....


