Kevin Goldstein’s mock draft at Baseball Prospectus is the latest to have the Pirates taking Gerrit Cole with the No. 1 overall pick, while the Mariners take Anthony Rendon at No. 2. As I recently wrote on Bucs Dugout, this makes no sense. If Rendon’s shoulder is healthy enough for the Mariners to want him with the second overall pick, he would be just as obvious a choice for the Pirates at No. 1.
Goldstein and several other people making these mock drafts admit straight-up that they have no idea who the Pirates will pick. So why does everyone expect them to do anything other than take the best player in the draft? And if Rendon’s shoulder is such a huge problem, why don’t the Mariners also pass on him as well?
As long as the shoulder isn’t a disaster, Rendon is still the best talent in the draft. We have no particular reason to think the Pirates don’t feel that way, and yet nearly every mock draft has them picking Cole. It’s weird, and I hope everyone else is wrong about this.