MLB Rumors: Yankees' Offer to Gerrit Cole Larger Than Stephen Strasburg's Record-Setting Deal

The Winter Meetings are underway, and the Nationals wasted no time on Monday signing starter Stephen Strasburg to a seven-year deal. With Strasburg off the market, all eyes are on top free-agent pitcher Gerrit Cole.

Strasburg's deal is reportedly worth $245 million, giving him the highest average annual value for a pitcher in MLB history. Because of that, Cole could get an even bigger contract. Will it happen during the Winter Meetings?

Check out the latest news and rumors around baseball:

• Gerrit Cole's contract negotiations are "heading toward the finish line. The Dodgers, Yankees and Angels are the favorites to sign Cole. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• The Cardinals have a "long-standing interest" in trading for Red Sox pitcher David Price. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)
• Marcell Ozuna is "likely to sign" at least a four-year contract. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)
• The Astros "have considered trading Carlos Correa" due to payroll concerns. (Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic)
• The Braves are "showing interest" in Marcell Ozuna if Josh Donaldson signs with a different team in free agency. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)
• The Angels have traded infielder Zack Cozart and prospect Will Wilson to the Giants for cash and a player to be named later. (Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic)
• The Red Sox may trade David Price in an effort to shed salary. (Jeff Passan, ESPN)
• The Astros appear to be one of two "mystery teams" interested in Gerrit Cole. Houston is "contemplating" if it should attempt to retain its former starter. (Joel Sherman, New York Post)
• Anthony Rendon's agent Scott Boras said talks with the free-agent third baseman are progressing and there are multiple deals on the table. Boras added Rendon has "consistently received seven-year offers." (Jesse Dougherty, The Washington Post)
• The Yankees offered Cole a contract larger than Stephen Strasburg's record-setting seven-year, $245 million deal with Washington. The details of New York's offer are not known. (Buster Olney, ESPN)
• Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the club's meeting with Cole was "really good" and a "real joy." He added: "Hopefully it's something that resonated. It's kind of a two-way street and we'll see where it ends up." (YES Network)
• Cole considers the Giants a "desirable destination." It is not known if Cole's agent, Scott Boras, has spoken to San Francisco. (Henry Shulman, San Francisco Chronicle)
• The Yankees made an offer to Cole on Monday night but there "seems to be negotiating to do." The Angels and Dodgers are rumored to be New York's biggest competitors for landing the California native. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• The chances of Rendon returning to the Nationals "seem slim." He rejected the club's reported seven-year, $210-215 million offer because he doesn't "embrace deferrals." (Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic)
• The Angels, along with the Dodgers, have expressed interest in Rendon. Other teams are also interested in the free-agent third baseman. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• Cole is expected to receive a deal worth more than $300 million. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• Yankees general manager Brian Cashman planned to submit a formal bid on Cole on Monday. The Angels and Dodgers are also interested in the free agent. (Joel Sherman, New York Post)
• The Twins are pursuing three starters–Madison Bumgarner, Dallas Keuchel and Hyun-jin Ryu. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• The Nationals have inquired about a possible trade for Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant in the event they fail to re-sign Rendon. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)
• The Indians prefer not to trade shortstop Francisco Lindor now but would rather wait a year to deal him. (Jon Heyman, MLB Network)
• The Yankees are actively shopping J.A. Happ as a way to potentially fit Cole into their payroll–especially for luxury-tax purposes. (Joel Sherman, New York Post)