The New York Yankees changing their nearly 50-year-old facial hair policy beginning this season to allow "well-groomed" beards, according to owner Hal Steinbrenner, caught many in the baseball world off guard.

The 34-year-old right-hander exercised his right to opt out of his contract on the third day after the World Series.

Aaron Boone went from having to police stubble to having to determine what qualifies as a “well-groomed” beard. But general manager Brian Cashman offered the Yankees a comparison of what their new beards should not look like after the organization announced on Friday it is changing its longstanding facial hair policy.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole told reporters at spring training Wednesday that ex-teammate Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Yankees is "good for the game." “It’s large.

Gerrit Cole and Carlos Carrasco get some bullpen work in together at Spring Training. New York Yankees; Gerrit Cole; Spring Training; Grapefruit League; highlight; team featured;

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has already hit it off with new teammate Max Fried, who will join him atop starting rotation for years to come.

There were a couple of mornings during the offseason when Gerrit Cole woke up in the unfamiliar role of free agent, available to all suitors after having opted out of his Yankees contract. Yet the right-hander always expected to be right here,