The Astros ended the Yankees’ season by knocking them off in Game 7 of the ALCS and on Wednesday, Houston owner Jim Crane clearly relished landing Gerrit Cole despite the Yankees’ interest in the right-hander.
“Any time we can beat the Yankees, that’s good,’’ Crane said after a press conference to introduce Cole at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros completed the deal Saturday for the 27-year-old by sending third baseman Colin Moran, outfielder Jason Martin and pitchers Michael Feliz and Joe Musgrove to the Pirates.
While the Yankees were interested in acquiring Cole, whom they drafted in the first round in 2011 before he opted to go to UCLA, general manager Brian Cashman was unwilling to surrender top prospects like Gleyber Torres and Estevan Florial, among others.