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After a wild day of rumors, speculation, and some actual real fake news, Gerrit Cole is still a Pirate… at least for now
All off-season there have been rumors and speculation swirling around the future of Pirate ace Gerrit Cole. On Wednesday afternoon, it appeared all of this speculation was going to end. This is because all signs pointed toward Cole being on his way to the Houston Astros.
As the day went on it come to fruition that the reports of Gerrit Cole being traded was nothing more than some actual real, genuine, and bonafide fake news. Maybe people will learn what real fake news is now.
It all started when Jon Morosi of MLB Network Tweeted that a deal was in place between the Pirates and Astros to send Gerrit Cole to Houston.
Source: #Astros and #Pirates have reached agreement on Gerrit Cole trade. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 10, 2018
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports then said he was hearing similar things to Morosi.
Source confirms: Cole to #Astros close. First reported: @JonMorosi.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 10, 2018
At this point fans of both sides began to wait not so patiently in anticipation of what players would be going to the Pirates in return for Cole. Names such as Colin Moran, Derek Fisher, Francis Martes, Forrest Whitley, and Kyle Tucker were among those that were being mentioned.
However, no trade ever happened. And, to his credit, Rosenthal would admit to making a mistake.
Earlier I quoted a source saying Cole to #Astros was close. Clearly that is not the case. Had heard all morning there was significant momentum toward a trade, with specific names under discussion. A deal surely remains possible. But I was mistaken to call it close at that time.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 10, 2018
Houston general manager Jeffrey Lunhow would then come out and say that no deal with the Pirates was imminent.
Just spoke with Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, who acknowledged he’s “talked to several teams about possible trades” but said “at this point, nothing is imminent."
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) January 10, 2018
So, through all of this, Gerrit Cole is still a Pirate… for now at least.
Before all of the hoopla this afternoon I wrote this morning that the Pirates should trade Cole to the Astros. You can read about here. This is something that remains true. Regardless of how close the two sides did or did not come to a trade today, the Pirates should still look to trade Cole to the Astros.
As the old saying goes where there’s smoke there’s fire. There was a whole lot of smoke pertaining to Gerrit Cole being traded today. While there is no fire yet, it definitely appears that Cole’s day as a Pirate are numbered.
Next: 2018 draft preview: Nick Madrigal
In 35 days Pirate pitchers and catchers will have their first workout of the spring at Pirate City in Bradenton. Will Gerrit Cole be there? Well, that remains an unknown. However, after everything that happened today, it would appear that the odds of Cole still being a Pirate on February 14 are less than 50 percent.
But, for now at least, Gerrit Cole is still a Pirate.