Tag: Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole opted out of his mega Yankees contract (but here’s why he’s likely staying put)

The Yankees have a $36 million decision to make with their ace

Gerrit Cole may be a Yankee fan today, tomorrow, forever, but that didn’t stop him throwing New York’s front office a curveball on Saturday by opting out of his contract.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, the Yankees’ ace informed the team of his decision to forgo the remaining four years and $144 million on his contract to become a free agent.

However the Yankees don’t have to let him walk away. The team can nullify Cole’s opt out clause by adding an additional one year and $36 million to his contract and lock up the pitcher through 2029 (bringing his remaining term to five years, $180 million).

New York has until Sunday night to invalidate the opt out and, according to Passan, the belief is that he’ll stay put:

The expectation is that the Yankees will add the $36 million to keep Cole at the top of their rotation and ensure that they don’t potentially lose multiple integral players, with star outfielder Juan Soto hitting free agency.

It’s certainly a bit of awkward timing for the 34-year-old righty who signed a Yankees’ franchise record nine-year, $324 million contract in 2019.

While Cole won the American League Cy Young Award in 2023, he only pitched the second half of the season in 2024 while dealing with an elbow injury. In Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Cole contributed to five unearned runs scored by L.A. after not covering first base during New York’s meltdown in the fifth inning.

If the Yankees decline to meet Cole’s demands, the pitcher will be among the most sought-after players on the open market.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1374]

UCLA baseball congratulates Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

The Bruins tipped their cap to the former UCLA-great.

Two former UCLA Bruins were central to the 2024 World Series this season.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts played key roles for their respective teams on the world’s biggest stage in baseball, but only one left with a ring.

Roberts, who graduated from UCLA in 1995, holds the all-time steals record for the Bruins in his time and is now a three-time Major League Baseball champion. Leading the Dodgers to their eighth title as a franchise, Roberts has two rings with Los Angeles and one with the Boston Red Sox.

On Wednesday, in a post on X, the UCLA Bruins baseball team tipped their cap to the former Bruin. Roberts not only boasts a fruitful playing career but has established himself as one of the best skippers in all of baseball.

For the UCLA baseball team, Roberts is yet another decorated program alumni and someone the Bruins could use this season. After a tough season in 2024, UCLA should consider inviting Roberts to Westwood to inspire the underperforming program.

Photos of Gerrit Cole in Game 1 of World Series

What a night for Cole.

Former UCLA Bruins pitcher Gerrit Cole got the honor to start Game 1 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was quite the moment for Cole, especially since he played college baseball with the UCLA Bruins.

On top of that, he pitched well, giving up just one run and four hits in six innings. Unfortunately, Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam sealed the deal and gave the Dodgers the 6-3 win in extra innings.

Still, it was a positive outing for Cole, who might have another outing in store in the World Series if the Yankees can win some games. Here are the best photos of Cole from Game 1.

Gerrit Cole dazzles in World Series Game 1

A great outing for Gerrit Cole.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got the best of the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

However, Yankees star and former UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole got the nod for Game 1. Cole delivered a big outing, going six innings and giving up just one run on four hits.

He threw 88 pitches and had four strikeouts in a big outing for the Yankees. Unfortunately, the Dodgers scored a run in the 8th inning to tie it, and then Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to get the 6-3 win for the Dodgers.

Still, it was a terrific bounceback for Cole, who struggled in the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians. In his lone outing against Cleveland, he went just 4.1 innings and gave up a pair of runs on six hits with four walks.

In Game 1 of the World Series, Cole didn’t walk anybody. As the series goes on, the hope for Cole and the Yankees is that he gets one more chance to start a game.

Game 2 is on Saturday night in LA.

Who is Gerrit Cole’s wife? Meet Amy Cole

A look at photos of the Yankees pitcher and his wife over the years.

Gerrit Cole and Amy Cole have been together a long time, even before he became an ace for the New York Yankees.

He was a star pitcher for UCLA, a future No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011. She played softball for the Bruins on a team that won the Women’s College World Series. And how did they get together?

Via Inside Weddings, here’s a fun story: “I remember thinking she was the prettiest girl I had ever met and I wanted to get to know her,” the groom recalls. They became friends while sharing the weight room at 6AM, but it was a pair of kind gestures that led to their relationship. “I was moving into my new apartment and Gerrit drove an hour and a half after a wedding just to help me move.  My mom was there with me and he showed up with a bouquet of flowers for her birthday,” reveals Amy. “That’s the day I decided to take him up on that first-date offer from the year prior.”

Here’s a look at some photos of them:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9cZ8izu2bc/?hl=en&img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8SfLl_xu_o/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2pjXhPrprQ/?hl=en&img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2YVvsBPsmO/?hl=en&img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzjnZcuPX0J/?hl=en

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1374]

UCLA legend Gerrit Cole to start Game 1 of World Series

The former UCLA ace takes the mound in Game 1.

It is a tale of two coasts for Major League Baseball as the New York Yankees take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. One former Bruin will be center stage.

New York ace Gerrit Cole is set to start for the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series at home just a short drive from Westwood on Friday night. Despite battling injury this season, Cole returned for a triumphant performance in the 2024 MLB Playoffs, with an 8-5 record and 99 strikeouts.

Pitching opposite Los Angeles ace Jack Flaherty, Cole has a chance to put the Yankees up 1-0 with a strong outing. In the playoffs, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, and New York Yankees, Cole boasts an 11-6 record with an ERA of 2.98.

Despite earning the Cy Young Award in 2023, Cole has still yet to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy. The six-time All-Star entered the season as the ninth-best player in baseball, looking to add to his illustrious career with a World Series championship.

Gerrit Cole makes impressive MLB debut 11 years ago to this date

What a debut it was for Gerrit Cole.

Arguably one of the best baseball products from UCLA, starting right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole made his Major League Baseball debut 11 years ago.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates first overall in 2011, Cole spent two years in the minor leagues before making his professional debut for the Pirates in 2013 against the San Francisco Giants.

In the win, Cole pitched six and a third innings with two strikeouts, allowing two runs, and even added to the game as a batter. With the bases loaded, Cole’s single drove in two runs to lift the Pirates to an 8-2 win. A sign of things to come for Cole, his first outing was an impressive start to his career.

Today, Cole is on the mend following an injury he suffered during spring training for the New York Yankees. A six-time All-Star and Cy Young winner in 2023, the former Bruin is the gold standard for pitchers in the MLB today.

Former Bruins ace Gerrit Cole returns to pitching activities

Gerrit Cole is inching closer to a return.

One of the best Bruins pitchers of all time has returned to action. Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees Cy Young Award winner in 2023, has begun throwing off the mound in practice.

Cole, who was placed on the 60-day injured list after suffering elbow pain and inflammation over spring training, returned to throwing this week. 

A big step towards his return, ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported that Cole threw 15 pitches, all fastballs, in his first outing after taking time off. 

According to Castillo, Cole said of his return to throwing, “It was exciting. This was a good day for me. I was fired up.” 

The Yankees currently hold a 22-13 record and sit in second place in the American League East. To boot, their 3.01 team ERA is third in all of Major League Baseball today, an impressive feat without their ace. 

If Cole can return before the All-Star Break in July, he can help the Yankees continue to lower their ERA and potentially surpass the top-ranked Baltimore Orioles in the AL East standings. 

Gerrit Cole furiously rips Daniel Vogelbach for a bat flip and slow HR trot in spring training

Gerrit Cole was MAD at this.

It’s only spring training, but we’ve already got some beef ahead of the 2024 MLB season.

On Friday, New York Yankees star Gerrit Cole threw a fastball that Toronto Blue Jays slugger Daniel Vogelbach sent deep into the Florida night. There would be no problem with that, but Vogelbach gave a little bat flip and maybe Cole thought his home run trot was a little slow for a game that was happening on the first day of March and not in the regular season.

“Yeah, what’s the day? Are we still in February? March 1st? Yeah, he enjoyed that homer,” Cole said on Friday, per MLB’s Bryan Hoch. And Cole added this when asked if he’d remember that: “I don’t forget a lot of things.”

WHEW.

Former UCLA Bruin Gerrit Cole ranks #9 in MLB Top-100

Former UCLA Bruins star Gerrit Cole is one of the top players in the MLB.

The Major League Baseball season is almost underway, with spring training starting this weekend.

In the leadup, the MLB ranked their top 100 active players, and one former Bruin cracked the top 10.

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole came in at 9th on the list. The 2023 AL Cy Young winner and six-time All-Star played for the Bruins from 2009 to 2011. In his time as a Bruin, Cole pitched his way to second in career strikeouts (376), third in career games started (49), and 153 strikeouts in 2011, the third-most in a single season at UCLA.

One of the best pitchers to com out of the program, the honor of 9th best in 2024 is a reflection of the UCLA baseball program.

Drafted #1 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cole has lived up to the lofty expectations. Recording the most strikeouts in a single season for two franchises, the Astros (326) and Yankees (257), Cole is one of the premier aces in all of baseball.

With the Yankees loading up for a potential World Series run, Cole can make soem more history for New York this season and make his alma mater proud.