Yankees: 3 contracts that could ruin the team’s future

1. Gerrit Cole

Contract: 9 years, $324 million

Stanton’s contract is going to hurt the Yankees for many years to come, but Cole’s contract is even worse. Cole may have been overpaid, but what hurts the Yankees more than anything is that he is being paid $36 million every single year for almost a decade until 2028.

The one positive of getting Cole is that the Yankees have an instant shot of being favorites to win a World Series. But is it worth paying Cole over a quarter of $1 billion to win a single World Series and watch many key players walk away?

Cole’s contract means that either James Paxton or Masahiro Tanaka will hit free agency in November, and possibly both. It could also mean that Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres do not get a payday from the Yankees.

Cole is an elite talent who is coming off an incredible season that saw him finish second in Cy Young voting. Many Yankees fans wanted him in pinstripes this off-season, and their wish was granted.

But it could mean that many current Yankees who are looking for big contracts over the next few years are going to have to look for those big contracts from other teams. Cole will not be leaving the Bronx anytime soon, so that is the harsh reality.