The New York Yankees could be facing a pivotal offseason decision with their ace, Gerrit Cole.
Cole has the option to opt out of his current contract, which still has four years and $144 million remaining. Despite this, it seems likely that Cole will stay with the Yankees, even if he chooses to exercise the opt-out clause.
According to Jon Heyman of The Post, the general consensus is that Cole will be back with the Yankees. It is anticipated that Cole may opt out and then re-sign with the team for an additional year at $36 million, bringing his total contract to $180 million over five years.
While Cole had a rocky start to the season following an elbow injury, he has shown significant improvement in his recent performances, with a 0.52 ERA in his last three starts.
The Yankees are expected to be active in the offseason, potentially voiding Cole’s opt-out by extending his contract and also participating in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, where the bidding war could reach over $500 million.
Cole’s decision will likely be influenced by his performance towards the end of the season, but it is widely believed that he will opt out to secure an additional year on his contract.
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