Report: Pirates passed on Yankees' offer involving Clint Frazier in Cole deal

The biggest news of the weekend involved the defending World Series champion Houston Astros acquiring Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four players, but it could've been the New York Yankees who landed the right-hander instead.

Pittsburgh apparently passed on a deal from the Yankees which included outfielder Clint Frazier, major-league sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The Yankees' offer was headlined by Frazier - who the Pirates valued more than any of the four players they received from Houston - but because New York's proposal was for three prospects, Pittsburgh went with quantity over quality, reports The Athletic's Jim Bowden.

Pittsburgh acquired pitchers Joe Musgrove and Michael Feliz, as well as infielder Colin Moran and outfielder Jason Martin in exchange for Cole. While Musgrove pitched well out of the Astros' bullpen in August and September, and Feliz has a fastball that consistently reaches the high 90s, Frazier is widely considered a star in the making.

Frazier, 23, was drafted fifth overall by the Cleveland Indians in 2013 and was traded to the Yankees in 2016 as part of a package for reliever Andrew Miller. During a 39-game big-league sample size in 2017, Frazier hit .231/.268/.448 with four home runs and 17 RBIs.

With Cole out of the picture, it appears the Yankees will turn their sights to free-agent pitcher Yu Darvish, who they reportedly believe they can sign at a "reasonable" price.