The New York Yankees are left scrambling after Gerrit Cole suffered a torn UCL, which will sideline him for the entire season following surgery. In the aftermath of the injury, a surprising offer came from a former college teammate of Cole’s, who volunteered to play for the Yankees in 2025 for $0. However, despite the unusual proposal, the Yankees have shown no interest in adding the controversial former Cy Young winner to their roster.
According to Bob Klapisch of NJ.com, the Yankees have made it clear that this player, who has been available and even offering his services for free, is not on their radar. Klapisch writes, “That sounds too good to be true, especially to fans worried about another disastrous season like 2023. But don’t hold your breath. People familiar with the Yankees’ thinking say he’s not coming to the Bronx.”
The reason for this is simple: the player in question brings too much baggage to the table. Despite his success since being exiled from MLB, including dominating in Japan and recently being recognized as the best pitcher in the Mexican League, the Yankees are unwilling to deal with the controversy that comes with him. Even though many debate whether he could still be an effective big league pitcher, the Yankees’ stance is clear—the baggage far outweighs the potential benefits of signing a star pitcher for the league minimum.
