COLE BOLTS HOUSTON FOR RECORD DEAL WITH YANKEES

Prized Houston free-agent pitcher Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees have agreed to a record nine-year, $324 million contract.

ESPN is reporting the deal includes an opt-out after five years and a full no-trade clause.

Cole was the runner-up to teammate Justin Verlander for the AL Cy Young Award this past season.

The 29-year-old, right-hander set an Astros record by winning his last 16 regular-season decisions and topped the AL with a career-best 2.50 ERA and a team-record 326 strikeouts.