Report: Boras indicating Cole unlikely to sign before new year

Set the hot stove to tepid - at least when it comes to the top pitcher on the market.

Though free agency is underway, agent Scott Boras is indicating to teams that one of his top clients - Gerrit Cole - is unlikely to sign with any club before January, according to Andy Martino of SNY.

On Wednesday, Boras called the report "completely inaccurate," according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon, both of whom are also represented by Boras, could sign sooner, industry sources told Martino.

Cole, Strasburg, and Rendon have all been tendered one-year, $17.8-million qualifying offers by their incumbent clubs (the Houston Astros in Cole's case and the Washington Nationals in Strasburg and Rendon's). The free-agent trio has until Thursday to decide whether to accept or reject the offers. Each player is expected to reject his respective offer, in which case all three will be attached to draft-pick compensation.

Along with the Astros and Nationals, the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres have all reportedly shown varying degrees of interest in one or all of Cole, Strasburg, and Rendon.