Astros Ace After Loss: 'I'm Not an Employee of the Team'

"I'm not an employee of the team." Not exactly warm words coming from Houston Astros ace pitcher Gerrit Cole following Houston's Game 7 loss in the World Series Wednesday night. Even more telling about his future with the club: When speaking to reporters, Cole ditched his Astros cap and wore one for the Boras Corp., a reference to superagent Scott Boras, who represents him, per Fox Sports. Cole, who is a free agent heading into next season, did not pitch in Game 7, a fact that has Astros fans second-guessing manager AJ Hinch, notes USA Today.

In the 7th inning, with the Astros up 2-1, Hinch instead brought in reliever Will Harris, who promptly gave up a 2-run home run. The Washington Nationals never trailed after that en route to their 6-2 victory. Cole, a strong contender for this year's Cy Young, is normally a starter, but he was rested and ready to enter the game from the bullpen. "It's a decision I'll have to live with," says Hinch. Cole, for his part, says the plan all along was for him to close the game in the 9th inning, if the Astros still had the lead. "And we didn't get to that position." (More World Series stories.)