The Yankees have until Monday evening to decide whether they will nullify Gerrit Cole’s opt-out by adding an extra year onto his record contract, or allow their ace to become a free agent.
Many believe it is a no-brainer to add the extra year onto the 34-year-old’s contract, but Brandon Tierney says there is an argument to letting the 2023 Cy Young winner walk.
“We all love Gerrit Cole,” BT said. “He’s been an absolute horse and I don’t want to see him leave. I don’t think he wants to leave. I don’t think the Yankees want him to leave. But the notion that the Yankees can’t exist without Gerrit Cole, to me, is flawed.
“When you look at his decreased spin rate and velocity - not significant, but enough - and then you look at the fact that, for the first time in a while he had arm issues...it’s going to be a layup in their mind, but what they’re going to do might be different than what I might do. What I might do, if I ran the Yankees, I might let him go.”
Cole has proven he can handle New York, allowing just one earned run in two World Series starts this season, and his career playoff ERA with the Yanks is a fabulous 2.93. He did miss nearly half the season with an elbow injury, and his average velocity was the lowest of his career, and his spin rate was actually a tick up in 2024 and has held steady since 2021. BT agrees with Cole being a bonafide ace and proven performer in New York, but he says the argument can be made that there is an alternative to Cole that could be better than the Yanks in the long run.
“I’m just looking at the building of the Yankees,” BT said. “Corbin Burnes, I’m not saying he’s Gerrit Cole, but he’s 4-5 years younger...if the Yankees are okay in the year 2028 or 2029 when he’s making $36 million, okay, but that is a game they’ve been polkaing a while.
“Are you telling me that a Burnes/Manaea duo, along with Luis Gil, and you also have Rodon for a couple years. You have to pay him...don’t you think that’s potentially a better way to build out a staff than to give Cole almost $40 million a year?”
Sal says Cole is simply too good and too proven to be let go, and the money shouldn’t matter to a team like the Yankees.
“I don’t think the Yankees can function without Gerrit Cole,” Sal said. “Get it done. They need to pick up the option.
“For me, the Yankees cannot lose Gerrit Cole under any circumstances.”