Around the Empire: Yankees news - 11/5/24

CBS Sports | Mike Axisa and R.J. Anderson: The deadline to void out Gerrit Cole's opt-out was Monday, and as it came down to the wire we got some surprising news. The Yankees weren't going to exercise their right to void his decision and tag on another year at $36 million ... but Cole was in fact going to stay on for the original four years and $144 million remaining. As it turns out, the two sides were more interested in staying together rather than testing free agency, but the Yankees weren't comfortable adding on that extra year.

MLB.com | Jesse Borek: Caleb Durbin swiped the second-most stolen bases that the Arizona Fall League ever saw last year, and in 18 games this year he's already outdone himself with another 22 bags. Now the career leader in AFL steals, Durbin is two shy of tying Rick Holifield and his 1994 campaign for the most in a single season. Durbin, who has been a Swiss Army Knife on defense for the Salt River Rafters this year, will need to be put on the 40-man roster to avoid becoming eligible for this year's Rule 5 Draft.

MLB Trade Rumors | Nick Deeds: Taylor Trammell only played five games for the Yankees this year after getting picked up on waivers from the Dodgers in late April, but when the team DFA'd him he stuck around in Triple-A Scranton and played fairly well offensively over 106 games. He'll get his next crack at the majors in a different uniform though, as the Astros swung a deal for the 27-year-old to give them some outfield insurance. The return for New York is not yet known, though it may just be for cash considerations.