As the New York Yankees chase their 28th World Series title, much of that goal falls on the shoulders of their top prospect.

Right-hander Gerrit Cole has largely returned to form after a late start to the 2024 season due to an elbow injury, and a contract decision must be made this season.

Cole has the option to opt out of the final four years of his current contract ($144 million). The Yankees can void the opt-out clause by tacking on an additional $36 million year to the back end of the deal. It seems like this is the most likely scenario.

However, there is the slightest chance that the Yankees will let Cole test the market if the opt-out occurs. If that’s the case, Bleacher Report’s Joel Rueter thinks the Houston Astros would be the best fit for Cole.

“Veteran Justin Verlander is a free agent this season and Cole was fantastic in an Astros uniform in 2018 and 2019. Adding him could also serve as a contingency plan if the club is unable to reach an agreement on a long-term extension with Framber. ” Valdez before hitting free agency after the 2025 season,” Reuter wrote.

Losing Cole to the Astros would be a major blow to the Yankees’ hopes of building a perennial playoff team.

The 34-year-old has still proven capable of leading a starting rotation despite his elbow injury this season. He’s just a year removed from his Cy Young season in 2023, and he showed shades of that dominance in 2024.

It will be interesting to see how the offseason unfolds with Cole’s contract decision, but it would hurt the fanbase to see him head back to Houston.

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