The New York Yankees may be looking to part ways with starting pitcher Gerrit Cole this offseason.
On November 2, Cole opted out of his nine-year, $324 million contract, turning down the last four years and $144 million left on the deal. However, the Yankees have the option to add another year at $36 million to keep him for the next five seasons.
If New York decides against adding this extra year, MLB analysts Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic suggest that the Yankees might target Corbin Burnes in free agency.
“If the Yankees opt to let Cole’s opt-out stand, his contract would then be five years and $180 million,” they noted. “Some might argue that allowing Cole to leave could be a strategic decision for the organization.
“Cole will be 34 next season and has faced elbow issues this year, creating uncertainty about whether he could command a contract of that size in free agency,” they added. “His velocity and swing-and-miss rates dropped this season, possibly due to lingering effects from his elbow injury or simply due to aging. If the Yankees choose to let Cole go, they could look at alternatives like Corbin Burnes of the Baltimore Orioles, who is four years younger and also a free agent.” Acquiring Burnes instead of Cole would be a bold move for the Yankees, given Burnes’ Cy Young win in 2021.
Despite these considerations, the prevailing expectation is that the Yankees will add the extra year to Cole’s contract.
“It is widely believed that the Yankees will not let Cole enter free agency, considering his significance to the team alongside Aaron Judge,” the analysts wrote. “Owner Hal Steinbrenner often speaks with both players to understand clubhouse dynamics.”
“Ultimately, it is expected that the Yankees will void his opt-out, retaining their top starting pitcher rather than letting him leave,” they concluded.
Cole, the Yankees’ ace, finished the season with an 8-5 record and a 3.41 ERA over 95 innings, and in the postseason, he went 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA across five starts.
**What Could Burnes Command in Free Agency?**
Corbin Burnes is among the top starting pitchers available on the market.
He recently completed a one-year, $15.637 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, where he served as the ace, and is expected to attract significant interest in free agency.
Jim Bowden from The Athletic ranks Burnes as the second-best free agent available and the top pitcher overall, projecting him to secure a seven-year, $247 million contract.
“This will mark the fifth consecutive year that Corbin Burnes finishes in the top eight in Cy Young Award voting. He had a record of 15-9 with 181 strikeouts and a 1.096 WHIP in his first season in the American League after being traded to the Orioles in February,” Bowden reported. “He has pitched over 190 innings for three straight years and boasts a career record of 60-36 with a 3.19 ERA in 199 games (138 starts). He is expected to be the most coveted free-agent pitcher this offseason.”
Burnes also had a stellar playoff performance, pitching eight innings and allowing just one run on five hits while striking out three.
