The Yankees tried drafting Cole in 2008 out of high school, but he ultimately decided to head to UCLA. Cole was later selected number one overall by the Pirates in 2011, and Brian Cashman tried to trade for the ace two years ago, before Houston nabbed him before the 2018 season. Cashman was finally able to reel in his “white whale”, as he famously called him last week, with a record nine-year, $324 million deal.
Cole, 29, was asked why he chose to join the Yankees this time around, 11 years after he turned them down.
“It was my dream.