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MLB trade rumors: Top 25 trade assets for deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 8, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) against the Miami Marlins at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Gerrit Cole

The Pirates have done a better job than almost every team in baseball when it comes to getting their young players to sign team-friendly extensions before hitting free agency. Gerrit Cole, however, is not going to take the bait. With more players making their debut at 21 or 22, players willing to give away free-agent years before their age-30 seasons may be few and far between.

You can’t blame Cole and Scott Boras for having no interest in an extension. A starting pitcher must do everything in his power to hit free agency as soon as possible in order to maximize his earnings. Cole turns 27 in September, and can become a free agent at the age of 29 after the 2019 season. Had he given away two years to the Pirates like some of his teammates, he could miss the chance for a $100-million deal.

Cole has won three starts in a row after a rough stretch pushed his ERA up to 4.83. In those three starts, he has gone 20 innings while allowing only three earned runs. The big right-hander out of UCLA remains a bit of an enigma because he has only one 200-inning season under his belt. His 2016 season was cut short after only 21 starts. If Cole stays healthy, he will be back over 200 innings this season.

The Pirates do not have the financial resources to make Cole a part of their long-term plan. If he is not traded at the deadline, he may be traded this winter. Pittsburgh is about to go into a rebuilding phase, and they will be smart and trade Cole before a major injury torpedoes his trade value.

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