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After two dominant seasons with the Houston Astros, right-hander Gerrit Cole is joining the Yankees on a monster deal.
- Gerrit Cole is reportedly set to sign a deal a nine-year, $324 million deal with the New York Yankees.
- The deal gives him the highest annual salary for pitcher in MLB history, breaking the mark Stephen Strasburg set just a day before.
- When the ink is dry, Cole will be the first pitcher and just the fifth player in MLB history to sign a deal worth more than $300 million.
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The New York Yankees have secured their ace.
According to multiple reports, former Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole has agreed to a nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees that should keep him in pinstripes for a long time.
The deal was first reported by MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
The deal comes with an annual average of $36 million, setting a new high mark for starting pitchers in the majors.
The previous record had been set by Stephen Strasburg just a day before, with his seven-year, $245 million contract with the Washington Nationals paying him $35 million on average.
After Strasburg's deal, many experts assumed that Cole was set to sign a deal worth north of $300 million, and just one day later, he's made it a reality.
Cole becomes first pitcher and just the fifth player in all of baseball to sign for more than $300 million, joining Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, and Manny Machado.
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Breaking: Gerrit Cole to Yankees. 9 years. 36M per. 324M total.
- Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2019