Gerrit Cole ended up being the ultimate bottom line during the Houston Astros' series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS. Cole won each of his starts in the series, including a sensational performance in a winner-take-all Game 5 in which he allowed one run on just two hits in eight innings.

Should the Astros go on to win the World Series, Cole will undoubtedly be a central reason for their run to the title. However, each dominant start begs the question: can the Astros keep him this winter?

Cole will be a free agent after this season, and even his teammates wonder just how much the right-hander will make in the offseason, via Scott Miller of Bleacher Report:

Across MLB this summer, increasingly, the favorite parlor game was: Name Gerrit Cole's Price. The buzz even permeated the Astros' own clubhouse.

“All the time,” outfielder Josh Reddick says. “All the time. I think everybody's looking at that across baseball. [Bryce] Harper money? [Manny] Machado money? It's going to be interesting.

Reddick also noted that Cole has a particular affinity for the West Coast.

As Miller notes, there is the possibility that the Astros could re-sign Cole. However, they would probably have to cross the luxury tax threshold, and the team will also have to grapple with whether or not they want to offer extensions to key position players like George Springer and Carlos Correa.

Cole will not be 30 until next September and is on the precipice of a record-breaking contract.

But where will he sign?

That same question is likely to dominate free agency this winter. The Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees are all expected to be in on Cole, but there will likely be other suitors as well for the Cy Young candidate.