Yankees ace Gerrit Cole might’ve given his teammates and fans some anxiety this past November when he initially opted out of his contract in a potential move to the free-agent market. But the former AL Cy Young winner never really had a desire to take off the pinstripes and pitch elsewhere.
The proof of Cole’s intentions came just a few days after exercising the opt-out clause — he ultimately gave up that manuever and recommitted to the $144 million remaining on his contract through the 2028 season. The Yankees could’ve voided the opt out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029, but their bargaining period didn’t force it.
“We had good conversations as a group and ultimately decided to continue along the path we were at,” Cole explained on Wednesday in Tampa. “Maybe at some point in the future, we pick the conversation back up. The intention wasn’t to do anything other than stay. I was happy to be where my feet were, back in Yankee Stadium.”
Before the Yankees settled the contract situation, Cole’s opt-out decision wasn’t at all perceived as personal — it was strictly shrewd business. While the veteran right-hander would’ve been one of the top free agents available this winter, perhaps he also realized no other team would match or even exceed the value on his current contract.
Nevertheless, the very brief window of the unknown with Cole caused some stress to others, and even Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted to feeling a tad nervous before the agreement was reached.
“He had a good way about it. He came in and talked about it openly after the fact when he came back in,” Boone said of Cole. “He kind of put us at ease and a laugh, and obviously I’m really excited he came back… Great pitchers are really attractive on the market. As great as he is and has been, you never know. But obviously relieved when he came back in.”
Cole, who’s entering his age-34 season, experienced peaks and valleys throughout the 2024 campaign. His debut was delayed until mid-June, after spring training tests revealed nerve irritation and edema in his pitching elbow. He finished the regular season with a 3.41 ERA and 1.126 WHIP across 17 starts.
While the workload didn’t meet his workhorse standards, Cole was still reliable on the mound. He allowed two runs or fewer in 12 starts, struck out 99 batters across 95 total innings, and won eight games. Cole then resembled his former ace self in the World Series, allowing just one earned run and eight hits across 12.2 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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