The New York Yankees changing their nearly 50-year-old facial hair policy beginning this season to allow "well-groomed" beards, according to owner Hal Steinbrenner, caught many in the baseball world off guard.

Gerrit Cole says he always intended to remain with the New York Yankees. The 34-year-old right-hander exercised his right to opt out of his contract on the third day after the World Series, giving up $144 million over four years and starting a two-day window for the team to void the opt by adding a $36 million salary for 2029.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole told reporters at spring training Wednesday that ex-teammate Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Yankees is "good for the game." “It’s large.

Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole squared off on the Yankees' backfields and the pitcher spoke to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch after. “I enjoy it,” Cole told Hoch. “I’ve done this for a long time; I’ve seen my fair share of line drives and gotten my fair share of line drives.

Aaron Boone went from having to police stubble to having to determine what qualifies as a “well-groomed” beard. But general manager Brian Cashman offered the Yankees a comparison of what their new beards should not look like after the organization announced on Friday it is changing its longstanding facial hair policy.

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Carrasco get some bullpen work in together at Spring Training. New York Yankees; Gerrit Cole; Spring Training; Grapefruit League; highlight; team featured;

Current owner Hal Steinbrenner announced the change Friday before the team’s spring training opener. New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole takes part in pickoff drills during a spring training baseball workout Thursday,

Former Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly's latest shot was directly at Gerrit Cole, claiming his 9-year-old son's travel baseball team had better fundamentals than the Yankees ace. But Cole responded like a professional. Speaking exclusively to NJ.com's Bob Klapisch, Cole answered Kelly's comments like a grownup.

Shortly after failing to cover first base in Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers, Cole opted out of what was remaining of the nine-year, $324 million deal he signed in December 2019. Cole presented the Yankees with the option to add a year to the deal worth $36 million or he would become a free agent.