Bauer downplays feud with Cole ahead of free agency
The feud between Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole is one of the better-known baseball beefs, dating back to the pitchers' days as co-aces with UCLA. However, Bauer - about to hit free agency for the first time in his career - is downplaying the animosity.
Back in 2018, former UCLA coach Rick Vanderhook commented on the feud. "I would have to say the odds of the Earth burning up are better than (Cole and Bauer settling their differences)," Vanderhook said, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. "That’s not going to happen. It's just not. They are opposites, just such complete opposites."
After Bauer tweeted at the New York Yankees last week and openly pondered if they needed pitching help - something Bauer has been doing to MLB teams since being eliminated from the postseason - baseball fans quickly reminded the pitcher of the quarrel. The right-hander was just as quick to shoot it down, calling the beef "non-existent" and "fictitious."
Well, whatever chances there are of Gerrit and I squashing this non-existent, fictitious beef, they’re certainly higher than the chances of this former UCLA coach winning a College World Series. https://t.co/ASHGIEELkY
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) October 13, 2020
Bauer doesn't address his relationship with Cole often. However, the 29-year-old commented on it back in 2018 after facing off against his former Bruins teammate while with the Cleveland Indians. "I have no problem with Gerrit," Bauer told Fox Sports Ohio before the game, acknowledging they had a "rocky relationship" in college because Cole questioned his work ethic.
Bauer is considered a front-runner to win the National League Cy Young Award after a dominant campaign with the Cincinnati Reds - his third team since getting drafted third overall in 2011 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bauer authored an NL-leading 1.73 ERA and 0.79 WHIP across 73 innings this year.
The former All-Star will become a free agent five days after the World Series' conclusion.