Cole: 'Intention wasn't to do anything other than stay' after opting out

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole wasn't planning to test free agency after opting out of the last four years of his contract in November.

"The intention wasn't to do anything other than stay," Cole said Wednesday after reporting to spring training, according to SNY. "I was happy to be where my feet were back in Yankee Stadium."

Cole ended up remaining with the Yankees on the four-year, $144-million deal he opted out of. However, If New York voided his opt-out, the 34-year-old's pact would have become a five-year, $180-million contract. He signed his original nine-year, $324-million deal in December 2019.

The six-time All-Star posted a 3.41 ERA with 1.13 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 over 95 innings (17 starts) in 2024 while dealing with an elbow injury.

Cole, who won his first AL Cy Young in 2023, owns a 3.12 ERA with 1.03 WHIP and 915 strikeouts over 759 innings (125 starts) since joining the Yankees.