Stephen Strasburg has agreed to a seven-year deal with the Nationals worth $245 million, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. It is a record deal for a pitcher that will also have ramifications when it comes to Gerrit Cole's market.
The deal includes a full no-trade clause and does not have any opt-outs, reports Tim Brown of Yahoo.
The Yankees met with Strasburg and Cole last week, though they have been focused on Cole. According to SNY's Andy Martino, the Yanks have back-burnered other business in an effort to complete the Cole negotiations.
It was reported on Sunday by Bob Klapisch of the New York Times that the Yankees had a seven-year offer worth $245 million on the table for Cole.
Whether the above figure is accurate or not, Cole -- who is two years younger than Strasburg -- is certain to vault past the record deal Strasburg just received.
With Strasburg going back to the Nats and Zack Wheeler having signed a five-year deal with the Phillies, two of the Yankees' four pitching targets are now off the board.
If the Yankees sign Cole, their process will have worked out.
If Cole signs elsewhere, the Yanks could turn their attention to Madison Bumgarner.