Hal Steinbrenner, Andy Pettitte were key figures that helped sway Gerrit Cole

Give credit to Hal Steinbrenner and Andy Pettitte for the Yankees landing Gerrit Cole.

Cole’s agent, Scott Boras, said both were key figures in the ace agreeing to a record nine-year, $324 million contract to come to The Bronx.

Boras told Jack Curry of the YES Network that Cole spoke to the Yankees owner five times, and hearing about Pettitte’s own experiences in New York left an impression on the 29-year-old right-hander. Pettitte was part of the Yankees contingent that flew to California to meet with Cole before the MLB Winter Meetings.

Tuesday night, the former Pirates and Astros pitcher agreed to the record-breaking deal, giving the Yankees the big-time starting pitcher they have desperately needed.

And it may not have happened without the owner — who opened up his checkbook — and the former Yankee involved in the pursuit of Cole.

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