Coming off an incredible 2019 season that ended just shy of winning a championship, All-Star pitcher Gerrit Cole made sure to thank the Houston Astros and the fan base on Thursday.
Cole, who became a free agent following Game 7, released a statement on Twitter expressing his gratitude for all of the love and support shown by the fans and the city in his two years in Houston.
The 29-year-old also thanked the organization, including ownership, for the support they’ve given him in his career and expressed appreciation to his teammates for the friendships made in their time together.
Cole is the top free agent available this offseason and is expected to land a record-breaking contract to become MLB’s highest-paid pitcher. Given the doubt cast by Houston’s ownership publicly about realistically pursuing one of the game’s best pitchers, Cole likely knows his days in Houston are over.