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Houston Astros Rumors: How a Gerrit Cole trade could still be in play

By Brian K. Patterson

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 08: Gerrit Cole
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 08: Gerrit Cole /
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The Houston Astros are busy working through the off season trying to get themselves in position to get another starting arm in the rotation before the start of Spring Training next month.  Gerrit Cole was reportedly to be that guy but notion of a potential deal vanished into thin air.  Here’s how one could still happen.

Houston Astros fans — you know what I’m talking about — many of us thought that we were going to land some considerable help on the starting pitching staff front but a crazy turn of events put us right back where things started once all of the reporting dust had settled.

Our confidence in a deal getting done has been marred but our hope in this notion actually happening is far from dashed.  I was actually excited about having Cole as a member of this team because although his numbers were less than desirable, there’s nothing like a change of scenery to change one’s perspective of their performance will translate on another home diamond, especially of one that emanates a World Series win.

But just for grins and giggles, let’s revisit the time line of this flabbergasting range of emotions we encountered earlier today.

11:14 a.m. CST:  MLB Insider Jon Morosi reported that a deal for Gerrit Cole was “imminent” and that both the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates had reached an agreement:

11:27 a.m. CST:  NOT SO FAST!  USA Today’s Bob Nightengale indicates that Cole’s camp has heard nothing about a deal being done:

11:42 a.m. CST:  The final mic drop was caught by the Chron’s Jake Kaplan, getting a killer quote from Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow:

And there you have it.  At the time of this writing, no deal has been reached between both parties and Cole still remains a member of the Pirates organization.  What could be the sticking point?  It’s likely the haul that the Astros will have to send to get him.

Why could a trade still be in play?

There’s absolutely no question that they want Kyle Tucker, Forrest Whitley or both.  But you know what? They aren’t getting them!  It wouldn’t be prudent to deal those guys now because they’re, of course, the No. 1 and No. 2 prospects as per MLB Pipeline.  Tucker is expected to be a dominant outfielder and the same could be said for Whitley as well.  My jaw would drop if ANY — let alone one — of those guys is traded.

But here’s what the Astros should do.  It’s time to package Francis Martes, Derek Fisher and Jandel Gustave in the deal.  If the ante needs to be raised, I’d be willing to package Colin Moran in place of Gustave but they’d better be sending me back Josh Bell as he would help with the depth

on this roster.

Ladies and gentlemen — if such a proposal were made I honestly think it will push the Houston Astros across the finish line to get one of the highly-targeted pitchers of the off season.

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His contract is extremely favorable for the Astros — he has two years of arbitration left — he made $3.75 million in 2017 — before he becomes a unrestricted free agent in 2020.

In that same regard, Morosi points out that the Astros would likely prefer to have a deal done by Friday because Cole’s arbitration situation is far from being wrapped up.  If the team facilitates a trade by Friday before the salary arbitration filing deadline, they could send in their figure rather than take on what the Pirates would have submitted.

Because of that, there’s a chance of deal getting done and quickly over the next 48 hours but we’ll see.

Next: The potential impact of Scott Boras' recruitment efforts

Cole, 27, posted a 12-12 record, a 4.26 ERA, while tossing 196 strikeouts all while harnessing a solid 1.251 WHIP, an 8.7 K/9 and a pedestrian 4.08 FIP through 203.0 innings pitched in 33 starts in 2017.

Go Astros.

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