Pirates Trade Anthony Banda to Blue Jays for Cash Considerations

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that they have traded away LHP Anthony Banda to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations. Banda was designated for assignment back on June 27th in favor of Josh VanMeter being activated off of the injured list. 

Banda has had a rough time since being placed in a Pirates uniform in August of 2021. Whether it was injuries, illness, or bad play, Banda has seen better days with the Pirates, posting a 4.70 ERA in 46.0 innings pitched with the Bucs. During the 2022 season, Banda has posted an ERA of 6.41 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched. 

During those 19.2 innings, Banda has actually been one of the better pitchers in terms of hard hit percentage and average exit velocity. Banda ranks in the 97th percentile in hard hit percentage and in the 99th percentile with average exit velocity. These numbers suggest maybe, Banda was a tad unlucky during the ’22 season.

The amount of cash received in the deal from the Blue Jays has not been announced. With Dillon Peters making progress in his rehab assignment, the Pirates could be adding a left-handed option sooner rather than later.