Man, it’s been a wild ride tracking the whole Gerrit Cole contract saga with the New York Yankees. I remember back in December 2019, it was all over the news when he signed that massive nine-year, $324 million deal. I mean, can you believe that? $324 million!
Here’s how it all started:
- I first got wind of it when the news broke on December 11, 2019. Everyone was talking about the Yankees landing this star pitcher.
- I started digging around, trying to find all the details. Spotrac was a good source, and they laid out the basics: nine years, $324 million. That’s an average of $36 million a year! Just mind-blowing.
Then things got interesting:
- I found out that the contract had an opt-out clause after the 2024 season. That means Cole could’ve potentially walked away after five years.
- But here’s the kicker: the Yankees had a way to prevent that. They could add another year to the contract, and that would void the opt-out. Smart move, right?
Fast forward to this year, 2024:
- Cole had an amazing 2023 season and even won the AL Cy Young Award. The guy’s a beast on the mound.
- So, the big question was: would he opt out or stay? There was so much speculation!
The Decision:
- Well, he decided to stay! I saw reports saying he’s sticking with the Yankees. And the Yankees, they exercised their option to keep Cole around. Now he’s locked in with them.
Breaking down the numbers:
- I saw some crazy stats about how much he’s making per start, per win, per strikeout, you name it. It’s insane! Like, over a million dollars per start!
My Personal Thoughts
Honestly, following this whole contract situation has been a rollercoaster. It’s crazy to see the kind of money these top athletes command. Cole’s decision to stay with the Yankees is huge for the team, and I’m sure fans are thrilled. It’s going to be interesting to see how the rest of his career plays out in pinstripes. I’ve been keeping an eye on all the news and updates, and it’s been quite the journey. I’ll definitely keep following his story. It’s just wild to see it all unfold in real-time.
