Sep 29, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Photo Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates traded starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 Major League Draft, to the Houston Astros on Saturday in exchange for right-hander Joe Musgrove, third baseman Colin Moran, relief pitcher Michael Feliz and outfield prospect Jason Martin.
Cole, 27, went 12-12 with 196 strikeouts and a 4.26 ERA in 203.0 innings in 2017 as the ace of the Pirates pitching staff. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander has a career record of 59-42 with 734 strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA in 782.1 innings pitched over a five-year span. His best season was in 2015 when he made the National League All-Star team and compiled a 19-8 record with a 2.60 ERA in 208.0 innings pitched. His 19 victories ranked second in the NL.
Musgrove, 25, is 11-12 with a 4.52 ERA in two seasons in the Majors. He went 7-8 with 98 strikeouts and a 4.77 ERA in 109.1 innings pitched in 2017. He also had two saves. The Pirates view him as a potential starter.
Moran, also 25, hit .308 with 18 home runs in 79 games at Triple-A Fresno. He hit .364 in seven games in 2017. He was the sixth overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft. He could be in line to take over at third base for Pittsburgh.
Feliz, 24, had a 5.63 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 46 relief appearances in 2017. He is candidate to be in the Pirates bullpen.
Martin, 22, instantly becomes one of the Pirates top prospects. The left-handed hitter slashed .278/.332/.487 with 18 home runs and 16 steals in 125 games between Class A Advanced Buies Creek and Double-A Corpus Christi in 2017.
