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Pirates Trade Grades: Bucs Get Better But By How Much?

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Bryan De La Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates

The trade deadline has come and gone but not before Ben Cherington and the Pittsburgh Pirates executed a whopping seven trades prior to the 6 p.m. buzzer.



It’s the first time since Cherington took over as Pirates’ general manager that he’s been in a position to add to the team. The Pirates improved to 55-52 after defeating the Houston Astros on Tuesday night and are two games back in the Wild Card race and are tied for second in the National League Central.

While there were no major splashes, the Pirates did get better on Tuesday. How much better? Lets grade all seven deals for the Pirates.

Pirates acquire INF Nick Yorke from Red Sox for RHP Quinn Priester

The first trade that the Pirates made came in the form of a swap of former first-round draft picks.

Pittsburgh traded Priester, who was selected with the 18th pick in the 2019 draft, to Boston for the 2020 17th-overall pick in Yorke.

Priester made his MLB debut with the Pirates last season and has combined to go 5-9 with a 6.46 ERA across 20 appearances/14 starts. Though he hasn’t found his grove in the big leagues, Priester has a better track record in parts of five minor-league seasons.

Unlike Priester, Yorke has yet to see time in the majors but could factor into the equation for the Pirates at some point later this season but will first report to Indianapolis. He was playing well in Triple-A Worcester at the time of the trade with a .310/.408/.490, eight doubles, six home runs and 19 RBIs in 38 games.

Given the Pirates’ starting pitching depth and the need for hitting prospects, this feels like good value for Priester.

Grade: A-

Pirates acquire LHP Jalen Beeks from Rockies for LHP Luis Peralta

The Pirates certainly had a need for an additional left-handed pitcher in their bullpen alongside Aroldis Chapman.

Josh Fleming elected free agency after he was designated for assignment and Ryan Borucki saw his rehab assignment stall as he deals with a nerve injury. Cherington landed on Beeks, a veteran left-hander who was in his first season with Colorado to help fill the void.

The 31-year-old Beeks went 6-4 with a 4,74 ERA and nine saves in 45 appearances out of the bullpen with the Rockies. He gets extension among the league’s best, which is something the Pirates have emphasized under Cherington. Maybe the Pirates will be able to unlock more than meets the eye because of it.

In order to get Beeks, the Pirates dealt left-handed pitching prospect Luis Peralta, who was having a terrific season in the minor leagues. In 39.2 innings between Greensboro and Altoona, Peralta had a 0.91 ERA and struck out 64 batters in 39.1 innings.

Grade: C

Pirates acquire LHP Josh Walker from Mets for LHP Nicolas Carreno

The first two trades the Pirates made were on the eve of the deadline. They began Tuesday by adding some left-handed bullpen depth to their 40-man roster.

Walker had been designated for assignment by the Mets after posting a 5.11 ERA in 10 appearances in the big leagues this season. At Triple-A, the left-hander went 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.

The 18-year-old Carreno went 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA in eight starts in the Dominican Summer League this season.

It’s a fine depth move for the Pirates. Nothing more.

Grade: B-

Pirates acquire INF/OF Isiah-Kiner Falefa and cash from Blue Jays for INF/OF Charles McAdoo

Wait, the Pirates acquired a player currently on the injured list? Yes they did, because the 29-year-old is currently on a rehab assignment and is expected back soon.

Prior to his hip injury, Kiner-Falefa was in the midst of his best season at the plate. In 82 games, the right-handed hitter batted .292 with a .758 OPS, seven homers and 33 RBIs.

Kiner-Falefa is a versatile player with experience everywhere across the diamond other than first base. He should see time at second base with the Pirates in wake of Nick Gonzales’ injury and will play some outfield too.

The cost to land Kiner-Falefa, who is also under contract for next season, was high. The Pirates parted with McAdoo, who had emerged as one of the organization’s top position-player prospects this season.

But in order to get someone you want, you have to part with someone you don’t want to.

Grade: B

Pirates trade LHP MartĂ­n PĂ©rez and cash to Padres for LHP Ronaldys Jimenez

The Pirates’ lone sell move was trading PĂ©rez, who was signed as a free agent in the winter. The veteran left-handed missed some time with an injury and went 2-5 with a 5.20 ERA in 16 starts with Pittsburgh.

Jimenez was signed as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic last year. He’s totaled six innings in his professional career and has allowed one run with six strikeouts.

The Pirates needed a little bit of breathing room on the payroll, so shedding some of Perez’s remaining salary was important.

Grade: B

Pirates acquire OF Bryan De La Cruz from Marlins for RHP Jun-Seok Shim and INF Garret Forrester

It took a while, but the Pirates finally landed a bat they so desperately needed.

There’s no denying De La Cruz, 27, will provide some thump to the Pirates’ lineup. He’s now tied with Bryan Reynolds for the most home runs on the team with 18.

Although his .245 is in decent shape by today’s standards, De La Cruz carries a subpar .289 on-base percentage. But considering his age, remaining years of control and raw power, the Pirates upgraded an underperforming offense for this season and in years to come.

It cost them a pair of prospects. Shim has been sidelined all season due to an injury. Forrester was selected in last year’s draft and is having a solid season despite a lack of power in Low-A Bradenton.

While De La Cruz might not have been the type of impact hitter some fans were hoping for, this looks like a good trade for the Pirates.

Grade: B+

Pirates acquire OF Billy Cook from Orioles for RHP Patrick Reilly

The Pirates ended the day by swapping prospects with the Orioles.

Cook reached Triple-A this season, where he was slashing .279/.372/.485 with 15 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and 12 RBIs. Like Yorke, he could factor into the big-league equation later on this season.

Reilly was another 2023 draft pick, and a strong return for the Orioles in the trade. In 19 starts with High-A Greensboro this year, Reilly went 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA.

The Pirates needed more hitters in their system and got one, but did they overpay? Seems like a little bit.

Grade: B-

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