Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole Exercises Opt-Out Clause In Contract
Cole Signs Massive New Deal
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has exercised the opt-out clause in his contract, making him a free agent at the end of the 2023 season. Cole signed a nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees in 2019, but the opt-out clause allowed him to walk away after the fifth year.
Cole's Dominance in New York
Since joining the Yankees, Cole has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He has won 32 games and struck out 649 batters in 447.1 innings pitched. Cole has also finished in the top three in the AL Cy Young Award voting each of the past three seasons.
Yankees' Outlook Without Cole
The Yankees will now have to find a way to replace Cole, who has been their ace and a key part of their rotation. The Yankees have several young pitchers who could step into Cole's role, such as Luis Severino, Clarke Schmidt, and Domingo German. However, none of those pitchers have the same track record of success as Cole.
Cole's Future
Cole is now one of the most sought-after free agents on the market. He is expected to sign a massive contract, likely in the neighborhood of $40 million per year. The Yankees are among the teams that are expected to be interested in signing Cole, but they will face stiff competition from other teams around the league.