Cole forced the Yankees’ hand on Saturday by exercising the only option included in the nine-year, $324 million contract that he signed when he was a free agent in December 2019. The original contract allowed the Yankees to nullify the opt-out by adding $36 million and one year to the original pact to make it $360 million for 10 years.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is staying with the club on his original four-year, $144 million deal, the team confirmed Monday. Cole had exercised his opt-out clause, but the two sides agreed to play out the contract and talk extension.

Gerrit Cole gave up his opt-out right on Monday and will remain with the New York Yankees under a contract that runs through 2028 rather than become a free agent. New York's ace initially exercised his right to terminate the $324 million,