Yankees bringing in big guns to attract Gerrit Cole

By Matt Johnson

·Updated: December 5, 2019

When the New York Yankees made their big in-person pitch to free-agent pitcher Gerrit Cole, the organization brought in the big guns to help woo MLB’s most coveted pitcher.

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Yankees made Andy Pettitte part of their group to pitch Cole on joining the most storied organization in sports.

In the meetings with the mega free agents, teams identify ways to make the player feel most comfortable — and along those lines, Andy Pettitte was part of the Yankees' contingent that sat down with Gerrit Cole. A very familiar face in HOU, where Cole pitched the last two years.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 5, 2019

It’s hard to think of a better way for New York to sell a vision of competing for championships and achieving iconic status than bringing in a pitcher who won five World Series rings with the Yankees.

Of course, it’s made even better since Cole grew up a Yankees fan who idolized Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. The Yankees clearly did their homework here and with the money to make Cole MLB’s highest-paid pitcher, along with a chance to compete for rings and one day be honored in Monument Park, they’ve built a compelling case.