Yankees land Cole

GERRIT Cole is reportedly on his way to New York Yankees. AFP

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole has agreed to a record-setting nine-year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees, US media reported Tuesday.

Yahoo Sports, USA Today and MLB.com cited sources at the Major League Baseball (MLB) owners’ meetings in San Diego in reporting the deal, which was not immediately confirmed.

Cole, 29, was widely considered the top free agent pitcher available this season after becoming a star with the Houston Astros.

His reported deal comes just a day after Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg — who had entered free agency after leading the Nats to a World Series title against Houston — inked a seven-year, $245 million deal to stay in Washington.

Cole led the Major Leagues with 326 strikeouts last season, the most by a pitcher in 17 years.

He finished his tenure in Houston with a 35-10 win-loss record and a 2.68 earned-run average.

Meanwhile, Anthony Rendon, the star third baseman for the World Series champion Washington Nationals, has agreed to a seven-year, $245 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, US media reported Wednesday night.

The deal comes two days after Rendon’s teammate, pitcher Stephen Strasburg, inked an identical contract to remain with the club.

The unassuming 29-year-old Rendon is coming off the best of his seven major league seasons, all of which were spent with the Nationals.

Rendon was widely considered the top offensive free agent after having a career season in which he emerged as a candidate for the National League’s most valuable player.