Gerrit Cole has opted out of his contract with the New York Yankees, giving the team a two-day window to void the opt-out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029. This decision comes after the Yankees' World Series loss.

Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo's $17 million option was declined, making him a free agent. Rizzo had a challenging season, missing significant time due to injuries but managed to contribute in the postseason.