Gerrit Cole is 3-0 with a 3.44 ERA through three career starts, walking just one batter in 18 innings while throwing 101 miles per hour and defeating Zack Greinke, Tim Lincecum, and Jered Weaver.
And apparently the Pirates might send him back to the minors. General manager Neal Huntington said on his radio show Sunday that demoting Cole would make “smart business sense” once the Pirates’ other starters are healthy.
Michael Sanserino of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette writes that part of the move would simply be due to Cole having minor-league options and the Pirates having six starters for five spots, but sending the former No. 1 pick back to the minors would also limit his service time enough for Cole to avoid “Super 2" arbitration status down the line.
For now it’s a moot point, as Wandy Rodriguez and A.J. Burnett are both on the disabled list, but the clock is ticking on Cole’s first taste of the big leagues.
