It appears that you’ve mentioned a significant, but fictional, sports event: the Boston Red Sox signing Gerrit Cole, a top pitcher for the New York Yankees, for $120 million. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, this has not occurred. However, we can explore what such a move would mean for both teams and the MLB in general.
If the Boston Red Sox were to sign Gerrit Cole, it would undoubtedly be one of the most shocking and impactful moves in baseball history. Cole, a right-handed ace, has been one of the top pitchers in the league for several years, playing a key role in the New York Yankees’ rotation since his signing in 2020. The rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees is one of the most storied in all of sports, and Cole moving from the Yankees to the Red Sox would be an extremely controversial and unexpected shift in the balance of power in the American League East.
For the Red Sox, acquiring Cole would instantly bolster their pitching staff. With a history of struggling to find consistent starting pitching in recent years, the addition of Cole would bring stability and dominance to their rotation. His ability to strike out batters and control the game would elevate Boston’s chances of competing in the postseason, especially in a division as competitive as the AL East.
For the Yankees, losing their ace to their biggest rival would be a devastating blow. Not only would they lose a key player, but they would also be forced to deal with the negative optics of the move. Fans in New York would likely feel betrayed, and the front office would have to scramble to fill the void left by Cole’s departure.
In conclusion, while this signing is purely hypothetical, it would shake the very foundations of both teams and the MLB. The rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees would reach new levels of intensity, and the entire landscape of the AL East would shift dramatically.