Report: Pirates engaged in talks with multiple teams about Cole

It appears like it isn't New York Yankees or bust for the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-handed trade candidate Gerrit Cole.

While the Pirates and Yankees have been engaged in thorough talks regarding the 27-year-old, Pittsburgh has also been involved in discussions surrounding Cole with multiple clubs since the winter meetings, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, who reports a trade doesn't appear imminent at this point.

Crasnick doesn't name any of the interested teams, although acquiring the 2011 first overall draft choice who finished fourth in National League Cy Young voting in 2015 would be appealing to most clubs.

The Yankees and Pirates were reportedly working on a deal as of Thursday, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, who cited a source that said a deal occurring was a "matter of when rather than if," but nothing has come to fruition as of yet.

While the Yankees have balked at a deal involving top prospect Gleyber Torres, it appears outfielder Clint Frazier could be the centerpiece of a trade between New York and Pittsburgh.

Cole is coming off a down year in the Steel City, where he posted a career-high 4.26 ERA in 33 starts, but he did pitch 203 innings and win 12 games.

The one-time, 19-game winner is arbitration eligible for the second time and is projected to make $7.5 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors. He's not eligible for free agency until 2020.