Astros Land Gerrit Cole In 5-Player Trade

Even though they are fresh off of their first World Series Championship, the Houston Astros were not going to sit idly by while their opponents stocked up during free agency. The Astros have gone out and added a new piece to their starting rotation which could bode well in their attempts to bring another title to Houston.

It was announced on Saturday that the Pittsburgh Pirates would be sending right-hand pitcher, Gerrit Cole to Houston in a 5-player deal.

In 2017, Cole owned a record of 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA, 196 strikeouts and 55 walks while making a career-high 33 starts. Cole was the number 1 overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft and finished 4th in the CY Young voting in 2015.

In the other part of the trade the Pirates will be receiving right-handers Joe Musgrove and Michael Feliz, third baseman Colin Moran and outfielder Jason Martin from Houston.

Cole will join a starting pitching rotation spear-headed by the 1-2 punch of Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel, making this rotation one of the scariest going into the 2018 season.