The New York Yankees have a significant problem developing at the worst possible time of the season. Gerrit Cole remains one of the highest-paid players on the roster, but his recent struggles are raising fresh questions about whether the veteran ace can return to the dominant form the Yankees expected when they committed to him long term.
The immediate concern became impossible to ignore Saturday against the New York Mets. Cole was pulled during the fifth inning of the Subway Series after another difficult outing, adding to a growing stretch of inconsistent performances as the Yankees approach the postseason. Heavy’s latest report highlights the uncomfortable reality surrounding the situation: New York still owes Cole $36 million per season through the end of the 2028 season, leaving $72 million remaining after 2026.
That financial commitment makes Cole’s current form much more important than an ordinary late-season slump. The Yankees are not simply trying to determine whether their veteran starter can have a few better outings before October. They are also dealing with a pitcher who is guaranteed another $72 million and is expected to remain a central part of the rotation for the next two seasons.
Cole entered this stage of his career with an established reputation as one of baseball’s premier starting pitchers. The six-time All-Star turned 36 earlier this week, and his résumé includes years of elite strikeout numbers, high-end command and the ability to handle pressure in important games. But age, workload and recent performance have created questions about how much of that version of Cole remains.
Another difficult night against the Mets
Saturday’s outing was particularly frustrating because it came against the Yankees’ crosstown rivals. Cole was removed in the fifth inning after struggling to contain the Mets, and the performance continued a troubling pattern in the Subway Series.
According to the Heavy report, Cole now owns an 8.49 ERA across five career Subway Series starts. That is a remarkable number for a pitcher who has spent much of his career being regarded as an ace capable of taking control of major games.
The latest performance only added to the frustration surrounding that matchup.
Cole’s struggles against the Mets have become a recurring talking point among Yankees fans. Online reaction following Saturday’s game quickly shifted toward questions about whether the Yankees should reconsider Cole’s place in their postseason rotation if his current form continues.
One social-media reaction suggested that Carlos Rodón could potentially deserve to move ahead of Cole in the playoff rotation. Another pointed directly to Cole’s 8.49 Subway Series ERA, while others urged the veteran to rebound during his final regular-season starts.
Those reactions illustrate the larger issue facing the Yankees. A player who once would have been considered an automatic postseason starter is now being discussed in terms of whether another pitcher might give New York a better chance in October.
The $72 million question
The financial component makes the situation even more complicated.
Cole’s contract calls for him to receive $36 million annually through 2028. After this season, that leaves another $72 million on the Yankees’ books.
That means New York cannot simply view the current struggles as a temporary inconvenience. The organization will need to figure out how to maximize the remaining years of the contract regardless of how the 2026 postseason unfolds.
The Yankees invested heavily in Cole because they expected him to anchor their rotation. His nine-year, $324 million contract was designed around the idea that he would remain one of the organization’s premier pitchers deep into his career. The contract also included an opt-out provision after the 2024 season, which ultimately did not result in him leaving the Yankees.
Now, the club is approaching a different stage of the agreement. Rather than wondering whether Cole will remain in New York, the question is how effectively he can perform while the Yankees continue paying him at an elite salary.
Age is becoming part of the conversation
Cole’s age is another factor that cannot be ignored.
The right-hander turned 36 this week, meaning the Yankees are now dealing with a pitcher entering the latter portion of his career. That does not automatically mean a decline is inevitable. Pitchers have remained highly effective well into their late 30s, particularly when they maintain command and adapt their repertoires.
But the margin for error becomes smaller.
A pitcher who previously relied on overpowering hitters can sometimes compensate for declining velocity or movement through sequencing, command and pitch selection. If those adjustments are not made successfully, however, the results can become increasingly inconsistent.
That is the challenge confronting Cole now. The Yankees need him to find a version of himself capable of handling high-pressure situations, particularly because the organization is built to contend immediately rather than wait several years for a rebuild.
The postseason rotation debate
Perhaps the most important question is what Cole’s current struggles mean for the Yankees’ October plans.
New York has several pitchers competing for important postseason innings, meaning the club has more options than it might have had in previous years. That creates an uncomfortable situation for Cole because postseason rotation spots cannot simply be awarded based on reputation.
If another starter is pitching significantly better when October arrives, Yankees manager Aaron Boone and the coaching staff may have to consider how best to distribute innings.
That does not mean Cole will automatically be removed from a prominent postseason role. His experience, track record and ability to make adjustments remain valuable. A veteran with Cole’s résumé can also change the narrative quickly with one dominant start.
But the pressure is clearly increasing.
The Yankees cannot afford to enter the postseason with uncertainty surrounding one of their most expensive and experienced pitchers. If Cole can rediscover his command and regain consistency over his final starts, much of the recent concern could disappear quickly.
If the struggles continue, however, the Yankees may face difficult decisions.
Why the next few starts matter
Cole still has an opportunity to change the conversation before the postseason begins.
A strong finish to September could remind everyone why the Yankees committed $324 million to him in the first place. The organization does not need him to reproduce every season of his prime; it needs him to become reliable enough to take the ball in critical games and give the team a realistic chance to win.
That begins with limiting damage, getting ahead in counts and finding ways to generate consistent swings and misses. Most importantly, Cole needs to demonstrate that Saturday’s performance was an isolated setback rather than part of a larger decline.
The Yankees are built around winning now, and their veteran ace remains a major part of that plan.
But the combination of his recent struggles, his age and the $72 million still guaranteed beyond this season creates a storyline New York cannot ignore.
For now, the Yankees are stuck between two realities. Cole is still one of the most accomplished pitchers of his generation, but his current performance is making fans question whether he should automatically be treated as the team’s unquestioned ace.
With October approaching and another $72 million still committed to him, Gerrit Cole’s final starts of 2026 could carry far more significance than simply preparing for the postseason. They could help determine how much confidence the Yankees can place in their highest-profile pitcher for the next two seasons as well.
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