The Yankees have had a hot and cold 2024 MLB season. They have experienced some highs that have gotten their fanbase dreaming about their 28th World Series, while the lows have influenced nightmares of another disappointing exit.
The bullpen is a far cry from the dominant Yankees bullpens of the past and the looming free agency for Soto has Yankee fans feeling bleak. This free agency period has major implications for future success. One situation that has been overshadowed by Soto’s situation is Cole’s opt-out option. Granted, Cole is expected to be back with the Yankees, as his opt-out will only force the Yankees to add an extra season to his contract. The possibility of the team deciding to let their ace walk sounds taboo and is almost certainly not going to happen. That said, some arguments could be made against bringing Cole back.
3. The Juan Soto Sweepstakes
Juan Soto or Gerrit Cole? While Yankee fans hope to not be in a situation where they have to pick between the two players, keeping both could have major implications for the team’s future improvement. The Yankees already have over $1 billion committed to just Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon, and Gerrit Cole if they bring him back. So, should the Yankees bring back Cole and Soto? One would argue whether or not that is the best for the overall health and future of the team.
Hal Steinbrenner has already called for the team to lower their payroll, calling their current budget “unsustainable.” Having both Gerrit Cole and Juan Soto committed to north of $700 million over the next decade may go against Steinbrenner’s philosophy. The question for fans is, would you let the 34-year-old Cole walk if that was the only way to retain the still-25-year-old Soto?
2. Gerrit Cole is Not Getting Younger
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Although pitchers like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander aged gracefully and pitch at an elite level well into their 30s, that isn’t always the case. We’ve seen names like Felix Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw, for one reason or another, fall from grace. Is $180 million over five seasons a gamble worth taking in the face of the front office? Cole’s fall from grace coupled with the money owed to Stanton and Judge (also players in their mid-30s) could be a backbreaker that sets the franchise back several years.
1. Upcoming Free Agent Pitching Classes
As mentioned, it’s safe to assume the Yankees will void Cole’s opt-out and add the extra season. But doing so may take the Bronx Bombers out of the running for future free agent pitching classes. For the next 3-years, names like Max Fried, Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta, and several more could hit the free-agent market. None of the names mentioned are the ace that Cole has been, but will the same be said in 3-years? That question could leave Yankee fans frustrated, just as DJ LeMahieu’s current contract situation has.
That being said, these points are heard mostly on deaf ears because there would be a riot from Yankee fans if they allowed Cole to walk during free agency. During their World Series push, letting the former Cy Young winner walk would be counterproductive. However, the rest of his contract could be a backbreaker that would only be accepted if the Yankees capture their 28th World Series beforehand.
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