MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees nearing deal for Gerrit Cole
By Jack Crosby
The Yankees could land themselves a starting pitcher on the trade market if they could finalize a deal for Gerrit Cole.
The New York Yankees have really been the highlight team of the offseason, especially with their recent acquisition of the best power hitter in the game, Giancarlo Stanton, adding to what already was an already stacked lineup. While the lineup is most certainly not a problem for the Bronx Bombers following the trade with the Miami Marlins for Stanton, the Yankees have been looking to add to some starting pitching as they chase the World Series appearance that narrowly eluded them this past season.
Well, they could be very close to making that addition they covet.
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates are working on a deal that would see one of the best starters on the market at the moment, Gerrit Cole, land in the Bronx. As a matter of fact, as Passan notes, it’s now merely a matter of when the deal actually goes down in the near future.
Sources: The New York Yankees are working on a deal to acquire starting pitcher Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sides are talking, and while a final package has not come together, there is confidence. "A matter of when rather than if," one source said.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 22, 2017
Cole was originally drafted by the Yankees in 2008, however, he opted to head off to college and attend UCLA instead. He was later drafted by the Pirates and he has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh.
Now, while Passan is hearing the deal is imminent, there could be a minor wrench thrown into things. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports notes that the Pirates are willing to do the deal, as long as prized infield prospect Gleyber Torres is thrown into the mix. As most of the baseball world knows by now, general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees are really not willing to part with Torres. However, the Yankees are happy to offer up a pretty nice consolation at the top of the deal, as they’re willing to part with outfielder Clint Frazier now that Stanton has been brought into the mix.
yankees have always loved gerrit cole, and maybe they work a deal eventually. but still hearing of one big holdup: pirates want gleyber to headline package, yanks want frazier to headline it.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 22, 2017
Even with the slight disagreement on who should headline the deal at the moment, the Yankees’ farm system is deep enough where they could likely put together a suitable deal for the Pirates while keeping Torres in New York. So, it really might be a matter of when and not if the deal takes place.
Cole is set to become a free agent in 2020.