Pitcher Gerrit Cole has landed one of the most lucrative contracts in baseball history after agreeing a $324m, nine-year deal with the New York Yankees.
It averages out at a record $36m a year, topping the $35.5m annual salary outfielder Mike Trout commanded when he finalised a $426.5m, 12-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels last season.
Cole, 29, was a free agent. He spent last season with the Houston Astros, clocking up 326 strikeouts and finishing with an earned run average of 2.50.
It's the fourth largest deal in Major League Baseball history behind Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton ($325m), Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper ($330m), and Trout.
Cole becomes the highest paid pitcher the game has ever seen but his salary is still dwarfed by that of the world's best paid athlete, footballer Leo Messi.
The Barcelona star earns a basic $92m per year, according to Forbes.
