The trades come earlier while the expected payoff drifts further away.
The Pirates agreed Saturday to a trade that will send right-hander Gerrit Cole, their opening-day starter and the workhorse of their rotation, to the Houston Astros, according to sources. The news was first reported by Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports. In return, the Pirates will acquire a package centered on third baseman Colin Moran and right-handed pitcher Joe Musgrove, according to reports.
With the move, the Pirates effectively waved goodbye to 2018 and signaled an attempt to reconstruct their roster with an eye toward contenting the following season.