UPDATE: Evil Ones may still be in the mix!
According to George A. King III of The New York Post, the Yankees have shut down trade talks with the Pirates for 27-year-old starting pitcher Gerrit Cole. As of Wednesday afternoon, it is still unclear whether the Astros have made a deal for Cole—conflicting reports have been shooting across the InterWebs all day. In any event—as far as Red Sox fans are concerned—the news is good: Cole will not be suiting up in the Bronx. The Evil Ones will probably now focus on pitchers like Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn and Andrew Cashner to fill out their rotation.