Report: Pirates unlikely to offer Cole extension

The Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Gerrit Cole don't appear to be on the same page.

Going into his first round of arbitration this offseason, the Pirates aren't interested in offering Cole a three-year contract extension, which would simply get him through his arbitration years, sources told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Cole is a former first overall pick in the 2011 draft, and probably a staple in most MLB rotations, but his habit of getting injured makes it hard for the Pirates to pull the trigger.

The 26-year-old was on the disabled list twice in 2014 due to shoulder fatigue and lat tightness, and also dealt with a rib issue this spring.

Over the course of the 2016 season, he was placed on the disabled list three separate times, twice with right elbow inflammation. Cole only made 21 starts and pitched 116 innings.

The Pirates are expected to go through arbitration with Cole every year until he hits free agency in 2019, which would be similar to the situation of former Pirates second baseman Neil Walker.

Walker went through arbitration three times, and before he could complete his fourth round last December, he was traded to the New York Mets.

Though Cole may have ruffled feathers in Pittsburgh, the club would almost certainly get a hefty return for him in a potential trade.