Cole deal is now centered on Clint
Gerrit Cole could end up in pinstripes after all — whether he wants to or not.
The righthander, who refused to sign with the Bronx Bombers after they selected him in the 2008 draft, is the cor- nerstone of talks between the Yankees and Pirates that have resumed now that the Bucs have given up hopes of getting super prospect Gleyber Torres back in return, according to Yankee sources. A deal was not imminent as of Friday evening, a Yankee source emphasized.
Instead of the untouchable Torres, the Pirates would center a deal around getting 23-year-old outfielder Clint Frazier, who became expendable when the Yankees acquired National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton in a trade with the Marlins earlier this month. Frazier, whom the Yankees received from Cleveland in the deal for Andrew Miller in 2016, hit .231 with four homers and 17 RBI in 39 games in the big leagues last season.
The source said they believe righthander Chance Adams could be included, as well as third base prospect Miguel Andujar. That would broaden the deal considerably, with the Yankees looking for versatile infielder Josh Harrison possibly in return. After trading Starlin Castro and Chase Headley this offseason, the Yankees will have holes to fill at second and third. While Torres is considered a front runner to take over second base, Harrison could be a solution at third. Harrison is owed $10.25 million for 2018. He hit .272 last season with a .339 on-base percentage and .771 slugging percentage. The 30-year-old had 16 home runs and had 47 RBI while mostly splitting his time between second and third base; he also played some outfield. Obviously the cornerstone of the deal would be Cole, who spurned the Yankees after they drafted him out of high school and instead went on to play at UCLA. The Pirates picked him with the first overall selection in 2011. Cole, now 27, has struggled since finishing fourth for the National League Cy Young in 2015. He went 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA in 33 starts this past season after an injury-plagued 7-10 season with a 3.88 ERA in 21 starts in 2016. While the Yankees have explored other pitching options, like the Tigers’ Michael Fulmer and Diamondbacks’ Patrick Corbin, they prefer Cole for his talent and his contract. Cole is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and would not become a free agent until the 2020 season. The Tigers’ asking price for Fulmer was too high, and Corbin becomes a free agent after next season.