TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 24: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning during the spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field on February 24, 2020 in Tampa, Florida.
(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the announcement Monday.

Gerrit Cole, the best and highest paid pitcher on the New York Yankees, will start the first game of the 2021 season.