Yankees' Gerrit Cole in a 'really good spot' ahead of spring ball - ESPN

TAMPA — Nearly a year after suffering an elbow injury that pushed his season debut back to June, New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said he is «in a really good spot» compared with recent years after starting his offseason throwing program earlier than in previous winters.

The right-hander posted a 3.41 ERA in 17 regular-season starts in 2024 before recording a 2.17 ERA in five postseason outings, including a seven-inning gem in Game 4 of an American League Division Series to close out the Kansas City Royals.

Now, two years removed from winning the AL Cy Young Award and entering his age-34 season, Cole expects to regain his place among baseball's best hurlers.

«My expectations are the same,» Cole said after the Yankees' first official spring training workout.

For 48 hours in early November, just days after the World Series ended, it appeared as though there was a chance Cole's days as a Yankee could've been over. The star right-hander opted out of his contract — a nine-year, $324 million pact that registered as the largest contract ever for a pitcher when he signed before the 2020 season — with four years and $144 million remaining, giving the Yankees two days to void the opt-out with a one-year, $36 million extension.

The Yankees chose not to, giving Cole a path to free agency. Instead, after discussions between the two sides, Cole chose to remain with the organization on the four-year, $144 million contract he opted out of, as if he had not exercised the clause.

«The intention wasn't to do anything other than stay,» Cole said Wednesday. «I was happy to be where my feet were, back in Yankee Stadium.»

Manager Aaron Boone said he thought there was a chance Cole could hit the open market where he would surely garner another