{"id":121974,"date":"2019-12-10T23:17:16","date_gmt":"2019-12-11T07:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=121974"},"modified":"2019-12-13T13:15:47","modified_gmt":"2019-12-13T21:15:47","slug":"oddsmakers-make-yankees-2020-world-series-favorite-after-cole-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/oddsmakers-make-yankees-2020-world-series-favorite-after-cole-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Oddsmakers Quick to Make Yankees 2020 World Series Favorite After Massive Gerrit Cole Deal Reported"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE (10:45 am ET) – DraftKings has now updated its odds for the 2020 World Series, and with Gerrit Cole’s signing, the New York Yankees are now the favorites to win it with odds of +425.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As reports surfaced regarding ace pitcher Gerrit Cole\u2019s record nine-year deal with the New York Yankees, sportsbooks wasted little time in updating their odds for the 2020 World Series.<\/p>\n

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Gerrit Cole reportedly agreed to a nine-year contract worth a record $36 million annually with the New York Yankees. Reports of the star pitcher joining the Yankees pushed sportsbooks to shorten the 2020 World Series odds on the Yanks. (Image: NBCSports.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 29-year-old right hander, who helped lead Houston to a World Series appearance this season, reportedly will receive $36 million a year under the deal. While the $324 million won\u2019t surpass the $330 million free agent contract Bryce Harper signed in February<\/a> to join the Phillies, the average value far exceeds the 13-year deal Harper received.<\/p>\n

It also edges the seven-year, $245 million deal Stephen Strasburg secured earlier this week to stay with the Washington Nationals, MLB\u2019s defending champions.<\/p>\n

The contract apparently lets Cole opt out after five years, allowing him to possibly pursue an even bigger payday down the road.<\/p>\n

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For the Yankees, while the money was large, the logic was simple. One of the team\u2019s biggest weaknesses this season was its pitching. Although New York reached the American League Championship Series, where it lost to Houston in six games, no starter threw more than 182 innings, and only one starter (Domingo German) posted a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of less than 1.2.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Cole, who finished second to now-former Astros<\/a> teammate Justin Verlander for the 2019 AL Cy Young Award, won 20 games in 33 starts last season. He also led the AL with a 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts. He also posted a career-best 0.895 WHIP.<\/p>\n

Now, Cole will be the top starter on a team looking to win its first World Series since 2009, a near-eternity for baseball\u2019s richest franchise.<\/p>\n

Odds Shorten in Moments<\/h2>\n

Shortly after Jeff Passan of ESPN<\/em> reported the agreement on Twitter, PointsBet jumped on the news. The sportsbook, available in New Jersey and Iowa, quote-tweeted Passan\u2019s announcement with its updated odds.<\/p>\n

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Odds to win the World Series:<\/p>\n

Yankees: +450
Dodgers: +450
Astros: +550 https:\/\/t.co\/i97ggnjGuM<\/a><\/p>\n

— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) December 11, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n