Astros GM: 'Nothing imminent' in deal for Pirates RHP Cole

A trade of right-hander Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates to Houston was reportedly in place on Wednesday, but Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said the deal isn't "imminent."

"We have talked to several teams about possible trades," Luhnow told the Houston Chronicle. "At this point, nothing is imminent."

Cole, 27, finished fourth in the 2015 National League Cy Young Award voting, but he posted the highest ERA (4.26) of his major league career last season, going 12-12 in 33 starts. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2019 season.

Cole, who is under team control for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, is in his second year of arbitration eligibility.

In five years with the Pirates, Cole has a 59-42 record with a 3.50 ERA, averaging 156 innings a season in 127 starts.

The New York Yankees also are in talks to acquire Cole, but a source with knowledge of the discussions told ESPN that a deal is not close right now.

--Field Level Media