**Gerrit Cole to Stay with New York Yankees Despite Opt-Out**

In a decisive move for the New York Yankees, star pitcher Gerrit Cole will remain with the team despite recently opting out of his contract. According to reports from Jon Heyman of the New York Post and Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Yankees and Cole have mutually agreed to honor the original four-year, $144 million deal, while discussions for a potential extension continue.

Cole originally joined the Yankees in 2019, signing a monumental nine-year, $324 million contract, which was the richest in MLB history at the time. This contract was meant to keep him in New York until 2028, by which time he will be 38 years old.

However, Cole faced setbacks at the start of the 2024 season, missing initial games due to nerve inflammation. Despite this hurdle, he managed to record 99 strikeouts and maintained a 3.41 ERA over 95 innings in 17 games. Cole’s impressive track record includes a unanimous AL Cy Young award in 2023 and starting the All-Star Game for the American League the same year.

The Yankees are prepping for a busy offseason, needing to address the futures of several key players. Free agents like Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, Alex Verdugo, and Clay Holmes either need to be re-signed or replaced. The team has declined options on first baseman Anthony Rizzo and pitcher Lou Trivino but decided to exercise the team option for reliever Luke Weaver.

With Gerrit Cole confirmed to stay, the Yankees can now focus on shaping their roster for the upcoming season.