The Yankees can nullify Cole’s opt-out by extending his current contract by one year, while Rizzo will become a free agent.
In game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium, Anthony Rizzo, the first baseman for the New York Yankees, reacts after hitting out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning. / Images by Vincent Carchietta
The New York Yankees confirmed on Saturday that they had declined first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s 2025 club option, following a devastating World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Additionally, sources informed ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel that Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ best starting pitcher, has opted out of his contract. By adding one year and $36 million to Cole’s current contract, which has four years and $144 million left, the Yankees can nullify the opt-out. The decision must be made by Sunday evening in New York.
The decision to reject Rizzo’s option was not shocking because, had the Yankees accepted the option, the 35-year-old would have received $17 million in 2025. He will now become a free agent after receiving $6 million from a buyout.
Before the July 2021 trade deadline, Rizzo, who played for the Chicago Cubs for ten of his fourteen Major League Baseball seasons, was traded to the Yankees. During his four seasons in New York, he slashed.234/.326/.409 with 60 home runs, 172 RBI, and 192 runs scored.
Cole, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2023, was sidelined for the first two-and-a-half months of the season because of pitching elbow pain. He made a comeback to pitch 95 innings for New York in the regular season, recording a 3.41 ERA.
Cole then led New York to the World Series, where the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the team in five games, and to their first American League pennant since 2009. Cole was brilliant in the postseason, with the exception of a terrible fifth inning in Game 5 of the World Series. In his 29 postseason innings thrown, he gave up just seven earned runs, including just one to the formidable Dodgers offence.
In 2025, Rizzo and Cole might possibly return to New York, albeit at a reduced cost. However, given that Cole already struggled with elbow issues this past season, will the Yankees want to spend an extra $36 million and sign him for another season?
We’ll have to wait and see. The Yankees worked out on Friday as well Luke Weaver’s 2025 club option as a relief pitcher. On November 4, MLB’s free agency era starts.
Leave a Reply