Sources – Yankees ace Gerrit Cole opts out of contract

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has opted out of his contract, giving the team the opportunity to keep him by adding an extra year and $36 million. Cole has been a top performer, winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2023. Despite a recent World Series loss, the Yankees are expected to retain Cole to maintain their strong rotation. If they don’t, Cole will join a group of talented free agent pitchers. Cole, who signed a record-breaking deal in 2020, has been a consistent performer, even after an elbow injury this season. In the postseason, he has a strong track record with a 2.77 ERA in 22 starts.