MLB trade rumors: Twins interested in Gerrit Cole, Jake Odorizzi

The Twins are looking into trades for starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Jake Odorizzi, according to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Berardino says the Twins are focusing on trying to acquire “front-line starting pitching” to help bolster a team that made its first postseason appearance since 2010 after earning the second AL wild card spot. The Twins lost to the Yankees, 8-4, in the wild card game, but finished the season with an 85-77 record — a remarkable 28-win turnaround from 2016, considering they went 59-103.

Berardino says Cole and Odorizzi are ideal for the Twins because they are both controllable for the next two seasons. The pair of 27-year-old arms are also not expected to make a ton of money after arbitration.

Cole was one of the hottest names on the trade market last season, but the Pirates did not pull the trigger on a deal because they were still in the hunt for the playoffs at the non-waiver trade deadline. Cole has gone 59-42 with a 3.50 ERA during his five-year career in Pittsburgh, with 19 of his wins coming during the 2013 campaign in which he was an All-Star and had 202 strikeouts in 208 innings pitched.

Odorizzi was also a name of interest for some teams, but the Rays held onto him because they were also in contention. Odorizzi has posted a 40-37 mark with a 3.82 ERA in his five seasons in Tampa.