The New York Yankees are on the cusp of losing reigning AL CY Young pitcher Gerrit Cole in upcoming free agency. Cole signed a $320 million, nine-year extension contract, which consists of an opt-out clause following the 2024 season.
While the Yankees can forfeit the opt-out move by adding another year for $31 million to Gerrit Cole’s existing contract, Juan Soto’s pursuit will force the front office to make tough decisions. Hence, in a scenario where Gerrit Cole enters free agency, here are the top 5 landing spots for the acclaimed starting pitcher.
Boston Red Sox
Arch rivals Boston Red Sox might not be a popular choice for Gerrit Cole. But the Red Sox are in dire need of rotation reinforcements. While Cole’s ERA at Fenway Park is 5.52 ERA, with 12 home runs allowed in eight starts, the Red Sox can have one of the best pitchers in the league leading the rotation. Cole is certainly the ace Boston needs, and despite the underwhelming numbers, the pitcher appears to be a perfect fit.
New York Mets
The New York Mets could fall a starting pitcher short as Sean Manaea’s contract is expiring by the end of the year. However, the situation between the Mets and Yankees is remotely similar. The one who fails to land Soto will definitely go after securing Gerrit Cole. Momentarily, the Mets are unlikely to win against the Yanks in Soto pursuit. Hence, signing Cole and extending Luis Severino in the off-season would strengthen their rotation.
Houston Astros
In his two-year stint with the Houston Astros, Gerrit Cole made 65 regular-season starts with a 2.68 ERA. His dominance further in the postseason essentially earned him a massive contract with the New York Yankees. Now, the Astros are likely to lose future Hall Of Famer Justin Verlander to free agency in 2025. Yusei Kikuchi could be released as well. The only obstacle is Alex Bregman, as his extension will cost the Astros $120 million, thus leaving no space for Cole.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are always in the mix when it comes to signing big-name free agents, and Gerrit Cole would be no exception. Moreover, with Teoscar Hernández hitting free agency, Cole appears a perfect fit for Dodgers. They have already made big signings in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto this year. But due to Ohtani’s deferral, the Dodgers have plenty space on the payroll to accommodate Cole. Moreover, Dodgers could not only provide Cole with a lucrative contract but also a winning environment.
Toronto Blue Jays
The only way for the Toronto Blue Jays to escape Gerrit Cole’s assault is to bring him on their side. In 17 starts against the Jays, Cole owns a 2.54 ERA and a 0.865 WHIP. The Jays have been trying to make a high-end signing for a while. They appeared as prime contenders for Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto’s trade this off-season. While those deals couldn’t materialise, Gerrit Cole is certainly a realistic target if the Yankees decide to part with him in the 2025 season.
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