Gerrit Cole’s presence in the New York Yankees roster is as important as having Aaron Judge in the hitting lineup. Without these two stars, the franchise cannot win a World Championship in the near future. And most importantly, the duo is currently in their prime years, which makes it the right time for the Yanks to push for the World Series title.
However, the 2023 season was another year wasted and the New York Yankees are now officially running out of time. While Aaron Judge will surely adhere to his nine-year contract, the same cannot be said for Gerrit Cole. It’s due to a unique clause that allows the ace pitcher to call the shots. However, the Bronx Bombers will not let Cole walk that easily.
Yankees Possess The Authority To Override Gerrit Cole’s Opt-Out Clause!
Gerrit Cole changed the free agency dynamics for pitchers when he signed a record-breaking nine-year $320 million deal with the New York Yankees. However, four years later, the ace still stands without a World Series title. While he won his career’s first AL CY Young Award, his team finished outside the postseason in 2023. Moreover, the ace pitcher ringed in his 33rd birthday this year and could soon edge past his prime years. Thus, if Cole thinks the Bronx Bombers no longer has what it takes to win a championship, he has the option to opt-out and explore free agency after the 2024 season. The pitcher’s agent, Scott Boras, recently hinted at the future possibility of the same scenario.
However, the New York Yankees can still keep Gerrit Cole in its fold. Apparently, if Cole exercises his opt-out clause, the Bombers can override it by adding an additional year to his existing nine-year contract. Thus, making it an overall 10-year deal. The salary for the added year will remain the same as previously agreed upon. Under this circumstance, the ace pitcher will have no say in his future. Understandably, the Bombers are not naive enough to let an ace starting pitcher of Gerrit’s caliber leave. As previously explained, he and Aaron Judge hold the key to the franchise’s success. Hopefully, the 2024 season will see a change in narrative as the Yanks seem likely to take the field with a better and stronger roster.
Hal Steinbrenner Reportedly Mulling To Raise Payroll Over $300 Million!
New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner wants to leave no stone unturned in building a robust roster for the 2024 season. After trading for generational talent like Juan Soto, the club has set eyes on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, competition for the ace pitcher in the market is steep, which might force the Bombers to raise monetary stakes.
But raising the stakes here would elevate the Yankees roster payroll over $300 million; a figure Steinbrenner didn’t want to surpass sometime back. However, with the changed dynamics, the owner has had a change of heart. According to Andy Martino, Hal is ready to surpass any threshold to accommodate Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Juan Soto together on the active roster for the 2024 season.
