The Yankees unveiled their “white whale” in Gerrit Cole on Wednesday afternoon, as the star pitcher brought his vintage childhood sign that he brought to the 2001 World Series. It read, “Yankee fan today tomorrow forever.”
Cole’s influence on the mound will not only give the Yankees their best chance at reaching the World Series but also finalize arguably the league’s best pitcher’s boyhood dream — Pitch for the men in Pinstripes. Achieving this feat after evading their clutches twice before seems worth it in the end. The nine-year, $324 million, and bottles of 2004 and 2005 Masseto Merlot sealed the deal for the Bombers, who weren’t going to let Gerrit escape a third time.