Pittsburgh Pirates (again) close to trading Gerrit Cole

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It’s being reported that the Pittsburgh Pirates are very close to trading Gerrit Cole to the New York Yankees.

Punxsutawney is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Pittsburgh, but it’s the Pittsburgh Pirates who seem to be experiencing Groundhog Day this winter.

For much of the last offseason, the Pirates seemed to be on the verge of trading star outfielder Andrew McCutchen. It appeared he was as good as gone. Then he wasn’t. He was back in the Pirates lineup on Opening Day.

During the offseason, it’s star pitcher Gerrit Cole who is perpetually on the cusp of being traded. The Pirates and Yankees have been dancing around a trade for a couple of weeks now. Jeff Passan tweeted on Thursday that one source claimed a Pirates—Yankees trade is “A matter of when rather than if.”

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

Pirates fans have been here before. When the McCutchen rumors were heating up the hot stove last offseason, it sparked a debate among fans. Many wanted him to remain in Pittsburgh, while others could see the benefit of trading him.

Cutch is a very well-liked player who has been with the team his entire career and has a good rapport with the fans. He also signed a team-friendly contract before the 2012 season that would pay him $51.5 million over six seasons. That contract expires after this season.

ITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 26: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates acknowledges the fans with a curtain call after hitting a grand slam home run in the second inning during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on September 26, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The grand slam home run was the first of McCutchen’s career. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise

When he was rumored to be on the block the last offseason McCutchen was coming off the worst year of his career, so his value was as low as it had ever been. He bounced back with a better season in 2017, but still not to where he had been previously.

There’s still a good chance the Pirates will trade him, especially if they trade Cole and go into a major rebuild.

But with just one year left on his contract, McCutchen won’t bring as much back as he might have if the team had dealt him earlier. Last year’s All-Star Break, for example, may have been the time to pull the trigger.

Cole is in a similar spot as McCutchen was the last offseason. He’s also well-liked by fans, having spent his entire career in Pittsburgh after being the number one overall pick in 2011. He was at his very best in 2015, when he had a 2.60 ERA (2.66 FIP) in 208 innings.

That was the year the Pirates won 98 games but lost in the playoffs for the third year in a row. They’ve had two straight losing seasons since.

PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 09: Gerrit Cole /

Injuries slowed down Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates 2017 slate

Gerrit Cole struggled with injuries in 2016 that limited him to 116 innings with a 3.88 ERA (3.33 FIP). He was healthy enough to pitch 203 innings last year, but they came with a 4.26 ERA (4.08 FIP). Like McCutchen previous offseason, Cole’s value has dropped because of the season he just had.

One big difference is that Cole’s strikeout rate returned close to where it was in 2015, and his average fastball velocity was as good as ever (96 mph). His most significant issue was an elevated home run rate, which had never been a problem before.

Like McCutchen before last season, Cole has two years left of team control. He’s also cheaper, having made $3.75 million last year and being projected by MLB Trade Rumors to make $7.5 million in 2018 after arbitration. With his salary and two full seasons until free agency, he should bring back a good return.

Jon Heyman tweeted on Thursday that the big holdup with the Yankees and Pirates working out a trade is the primary player the Pirates want back. According to Heyman, the Pirates want shortstop Gleyber Torres to be the headliner. The Yankees would prefer to send outfielder Clint Frazier to The ‘Burgh.

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

The Pirates asking for Torres is just posturing, like the guy in your fantasy baseball league who starts off with a ridiculous offer before coming to his senses.

The Pirates won’t get one of the best prospects in baseball for Cole, even with Cole being two years from free agency.

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 21: Gerrit Cole /

The Pittsburgh Pirates should not give in to the Yankees demands

MLB Pipeline has Torres as the number two prospect in baseball, behind Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani.

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Frazier has played enough in the big leagues (142 plate appearances) that he’s no longer on their list, but he was ranked 39^th by Baseball America before last season.

If this deal gets done, Frazier will be the central player coming back, not Torres.

Along with Frazier, the Pirates would likely get one or two additional minor league prospects in return, or perhaps young major league starter Jordan Montgomery, who finished sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting last season.

After re-signing CC Sabathia recently, the Yankees have a starting rotation of Luis Severino, Sonny Gray, Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, and Jordan Montgomery.

If they trade for Cole, one of those five would be out of the rotation and Montgomery would be the most likely choice.

Should this trade happen, the Pirates would have a surplus of outfielders, with Frazier joining Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco, and Andrew McCutchen?

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And that, of course, would bring us right back to where we were last season, another couple months of Groundhog Day, with Andrew McCutchen trade rumors swirling around The ‘Burgh once again.

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