There are plenty of Pirates fans scratching their heads after yesterday’s trade deadline passed with a number of players on expiring contracts still with the team and two popular pitchers still under club control who were sent away.
David Bednar is a New York Yankee. Bailey Falter is a Kansas City Royal, both for prospects. The Pirates also traded newly-acquired reliever Taylor Rogers to the Cubs. The highest-rated new Pirate is Triple-A catcher Rafael Flores, who was the Yankees’ 8th-ranked prospect. They also got Low-A catcher Edgleen Perez and Brian Sanchez in the Bednar deal, along with two minor leaguers in the Falter trade, Triple-A pitcher Evan Sisk and Low-A first baseman Callan Moss, who were not among the top 30 prospects in the Royals’ system. For Rogers, the Cubs sent first baseman Ivan Brethowr, who was hitting .208 in High-A.
Tommy Pham, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Andrew Heaney are all on expiring contracts and all remain with the Pirates.
General manager Ben Cherington says he couldn’t make a deal for more offense, so he will look for some bats in the off-season.
Cherington likes the package of minor leaguers he got for Bednar.
The GM says Rafael Flores is the headliner in the Bednar deal.
The Pirates are riding a five-game winning streak into Colorado tonight. Joe Block has a preview.
Jared Triolo is expected to be recalled from Indianapolis and take over at third base after the trade of Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Reds. Ryan Borucki could rejoin the bullpen after he returned to Pittsburgh after rehabbing his back injury. He has not been activated yet. The trade of Falter could open the door for top prospect Bubba Chandler to join the Pirates rotation, and Johan Oviedo could also be called up.
