Bleacher Report's Gerrit Cole free agency take is nothing but Yankees distraction

What would otherwise be a "why even bother" shrug has turned into a "we must address this because far too much noise is being made." This specifically pertains to the New York Yankees and Gerrit Cole once the offseason arrives.

As most fans know at this point, Cole has an opt-out clause he can exercise after the 2024 season. And the Yankees have a fast and easy way to negate it: all they need to do is tack on another year at $36 million to Cole's current deal and he cannot leave. It's very much a no-brainer decision.

Cole's been worth every penny for New York despite initial concerns about his $324 million contract. He hasn't yet taken the team to the promosed land, but that could change in about a month. But that also won't matter for his future value.

Even with elbow troubles, Cole's been as important as he's ever been to the Yankees' operation. He's the leader of the pitching staff and can neutralize any opposing offense on any given night. That is worth top dollar.

So when we see takes about how "the stars might be lining up" (the wrong use of the phrase) for Cole and the Yankees to "part ways this winter," we simply must interject and provide the voice of reason.

No, stars are not aligning for Gerrit Cole to leave Yankees

First of all, how is this a "stars aligning" situation? That usually foreshadows something good. Unless, of course, this is being written through the lens of somebody who wants to see the Yankees fail in some capacity. Then we understand.

But even with a Juan Soto expenditure on the horizon, Cole's contract can't be considered an obstacle because adding Soto long-term and subtracting Cole is essentially a cancel-out move. The Yankees don't get better. And what kind of a way would that be to start Soto's hypothetical Hall of Fame career in the Bronx?

The Yankees already have a ton of money coming off the books. This is what they planned for. They have close to $50 million that will be freed up, in addition to another $10-$15 million in the form of non-tenders. And, for the most part, they'll be better off for it.

The pitching staff will stay intact and only a few relief additions will be needed. The lineup will see upgrades in the form of Jasson Dominguez taking over for Alex Verdugo on a full-time basis. And they have options to fill the Gleyber Torres void at second base (Jazz Chisholm, Oswaldo Cabrera, Jon Berti).

Only Soto and Cole represent potential irreplaceable losses when the offseason arrives. The Yankees might have made some mistakes with their spending over the last 15 years, but they're definitely smart enough to realize that an extra $36 million for Cole five years from now (if he even decides to opt out) will hardly affect the ~$500 million allotted for Soto.

Plus, we have the playoffs to focus on. No more of this unless the Yankees are eliminated. Thanks.