By Miguel Rapetti
Aug 28, 2024, 10:34 PM EDT
The New York Yankees could lose their rotation ace, Gerrit Cole, for the upcoming 2025 Major League Baseball season, after it was learned that the right-hander could be thinking about opting out of his contract with the Mules.
According to a report by well-known ESPN journalist Jeff Passan, Cole would be exploring the option of leaving his contract with the Yankees at the end of 2024 and canceling the four seasons and $144 million dollars remaining on his contract agreed to in 2020.
“Returning from an elbow injury and pitching well, Cole also figures to hit free agency this winter with a strong expectation that he will opt out of the final four years and $144 million of his nine-year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees,” Passan’s report read.
Cole, 34, is either looking to explore new horizons or ensure he can get one more season with the Yankees, something he hinted at during Spring Training in 2024.
“At some point, there’s probably some math involved,” he said of the Yankees’ clause after his fourth year.
However, the Yankees would have the final say. As Passaan recalls, Cole’s attempted exit could be nullified by the Mules if they opt to add a 10th year to the original contract under which the 2023 Cy Young Award winner would receive $36 million in 2029.
However, the situation should be studied by the Yankees because a weakened rotation with the departure of their best pitcher would undermine their intentions to seek a new World Series ring.
“The Yankees can void it by adding a tenth year for $36 million to his original contract. (…) Losing the ace of their rotation would be a tough blow, especially since New York will be in the middle of everything that involves the negotiation with Juan Soto in free agency,” Passan added.
The issue of Juan Soto’s attempt to sign in the 2025 free agency, as well as the heavy investment the Yankees made in signing Aaron Judge at the beginning of 2024, will be key to knowing if the Yankees will be able to pay the $36 million dollars that will allow them to keep the six-time All-Star Game member.
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