They say even a broken clock is right twice a day, but Yankees fans might need to recognize that some of the early offseason skepticism about Gerrit Cole was warranted. Maybe New York was swept up in its recent World Series run or reluctant to part with a key player, but in hindsight, that stance hasn’t aged well.
Now that Cole’s Tommy John surgery is official, former Mets GM Zack Scott revisited a tweet he posted when the Yankees ace opted out of his contract in November. For context, Scott was dismissed after a DUI arrest in 2021 but was later acquitted in 2022.
Scott had warned that the Yankees were taking a massive risk by voiding Cole’s opt-out and adding another year at $36 million. He also pointed out that the remaining four years and $144 million posed serious financial concerns, given Cole’s elbow issues and that the contract extended into his mid-to-late 30s.
Scott noted that it would take “huge stones” for the Yankees to walk away, and he wasn’t wrong. The backlash would have been fierce if New York had let its ace go right after a World Series run.
However, the Yankees could have filled that void by signing Max Fried and another pitcher while making further upgrades post-Juan Soto. It wouldn’t have been catastrophic. What stings now is that, according to Scott, others in the industry also believed letting Cole walk was the right move.
Cole’s injury is unfortunate. While walking away from him would have been an unpopular decision, it may have been the wiser long-term choice. This isn’t a knock on Cole—he’s an elite pitcher who played a key role in the Yankees’ championship push. But some fans may be overlooking the reality of his tenure.
His Cy Young season was impressive, but it came during the Yankees’ worst campaign in 30 years. His 2021 postseason outing contributed to a loss against the Red Sox, and his struggles against the Astros in 2022 put New York in a 0-3 ALCS hole. He also led the AL in home runs allowed that year. His best regular seasons occurred when the Yankees weren’t serious contenders.
Cole still holds the largest free-agent pitching contract in history, signed back in 2019. It’s reasonable for some Yankees fans to have expected more. And it’s fair to wonder if passing on the remaining $144 million of his deal might have been the smarter move to set the team up for future success.
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