Report: Yankees were never close to trading for Pirates' Cole
It turns out Gerrit Cole may not have ever been on the verge of landing in the Bronx.
According to Bob Klapisch, formerly of the Bergen Record, the New York Yankees are currently "nowhere" when it comes to making a trade for Cole, and were actually never close during their discussions with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Yankees reportedly consider their rotation to be set as presently constructed, Klapisch reports.
Yankees projected 2018 rotation
| Pitcher | R/L | 2017 ERA | 2017 K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luis Severino | R | 2.98 | 230 |
| Masahiro Tanaka | R | 4.74 | 194 |
| Sonny Gray | R | 3.55 | 153 |
| CC Sabathia | L | 3.69 | 120 |
| Jordan Montgomery | L | 3.88 | 144 |
Reports last week indicated the Yankees and Pirates were working on a trade, with top outfield prospect Clint Frazier said to be the headlining piece going to Pittsburgh in return. There was also some talk of a possible expanded trade involving both Cole and utility man Josh Harrison going to New York for a larger package of prospects.
Days after the teams were said to be moving closer to a trade, however, it was reported talks had cooled and Pittsburgh was apparently discussing Cole with other interested teams.
Related: 3 teams not named the Yankees that could trade for Gerrit Cole
Cole, who was originally drafted by the Yankees in 2008 but eschewed a contract with them to attend college, posted a 4.26 ERA while striking out 196 in 33 starts for Pittsburgh last season. The 27-year-old has another two seasons of arbitration eligibility remaining.