**Yankees Face $180 Million Decision As Gerrit Cole Opts Out**

The New York Yankees are facing a critical decision after star pitcher Gerrit Cole opted out of his contract on Saturday morning. The Yankees now have until Sunday night to inform Cole and his agent, Scott Boras, whether they will extend his contract by an additional year, thereby voiding his opt-out clause, or allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.

Cole’s current contract has four years and $144 million remaining, part of his initial nine-year, $324 million deal. If the Yankees choose to extend his contract by one year, it will transform into a 10-year, $360 million agreement, making it the richest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. Cole, 34, has been a standout player during his tenure with the Yankees, winning the Cy Young award in 2023. This year, he returned from nerve inflammation in his elbow to make 17 starts, posting an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA and striking out 99 batters over 95 innings.

In the postseason, Cole delivered an exceptional performance, recording a 2.17 ERA over 29 innings with 22 strikeouts. Despite his strong showing, a crucial error in Game 5 of the World Series led to the Yankees' defeat. Cole had been pitching a no-hitter into the fifth inning when two errors and a mental lapse on his part resulted in five unearned runs.

The Yankees could opt to redirect the funds earmarked for Cole to younger, possibly more affordable, free-agent pitchers. However, many top-tier options, such as Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell, are also represented by Boras, making the decision more complex. Other potential targets in the free-agent market include Max Fried, Yusei Kikuchi, Jack Flaherty, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Nick Pivetta.

Additionally, the Yankees have financial considerations regarding their pursuit of free agent outfielder Juan Soto. Despite these factors, they are expected to extend Cole’s contract, securing his services through the 2029 season, by which time he will be 40 years old. Nevertheless, a club official emphasized that no final decision has been made.

In other team news, the Yankees declined first baseman Anthony Rizzo's $17 million option for 2025, opting instead for a $6 million buyout. They also picked up the 2025 option on reliever Luke Weaver, following his impressive postseason performance.