The Pirates finally become buyers at the MLB trade deadline

The Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves as buyers for the first time in several years during the 2024 MLB trade deadline. This was the first time that general manager Ben Cherington got to add pieces to the team in hopes of improving their playoff chances. With the pitching staff hitting on all cylinders, everybody knew the Pirates would have to add some bats. The injury to Nick Gonzales intensified that point even more. Cherington added some bats to the infield and outfield, a couple of left-handed relievers and his biggest move may be the one nobody is paying attention to. 

Draft Nation will go over each deal and how it affects the Pirates.

Pirates trade starting pitcher Quinn Priester to Boston for IF/OF Nick Yorke

Usually it is disheartening when a team gives up on their former first round pick, especially when Priester is only 23-years-old. However, the Pirates had a logjam at starting pitcher, not only on the big league club, but also in the system. 

They obtained a former first round pick in Nick Yorke, who was the No. 17 pick of the 2020 draft (Priester was No. 18 in the 2019 draft). Yorke has yet to make his major league debut, although he has been producing at the AAA level for Boston. Yorke can play second base and has gotten some time in left field as well. He was hitting .310 with six home runs for Worcester(AAA) in 145 at bats. Yorke projects as a hitter who can produce a high average and can hit the occasional long ball. He has some speed on the basepaths and will be a solid versatile player to have in the system.

Priester has started to show some growth this season, but was still overall–inconsistent. Priester still has the potential to be a nice middle of the rotation pitcher if he can get better command of his pitches. The Pirates traded from an area of strength in this case, a good deal by Pittsburgh. He slides in as a top-5 prospect and could see a call-up to the majors this season, although he is not on the 40-man as of this writing.

Pirates trade minor league reliever Luis Peralta to Colorado for left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks

The Pirates add a veteran left-handed reliever, who is stronger against lefty hitters (.529 OPS) than he is against righties (.791). He throws three pitches, a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s, with a changeup and a cutter.

Beeks, 31, is a six-year veteran who was in his first season with the Rockies. In 45 appearances, he had a 4.74 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 18 walks. He’s also allowed six home runs. Beeks will strengthen the backend of the Pirates bullpen, and add another veteran lefty to the mix. He is set to become a free agent at the end of the year.

Peralta, the younger brother of Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta, has been dominating out of the Double-A Altoona bullpen this season. The 23-year-old left-hander has allowed just four earned runs in 39 2/3 innings, striking out 64 and walking 18. He’s allowed just one home run. Peralta is due to become a minor league free agent at the end of the season if not added to the Colorado Rockies 40-man. 

Pirates trade rookie ball pitcher Nicolas Carreno to New York Mets for left-handed reliever Josh Walker

The Mets just designated Josh Walker for assignment last week. The Pirates add to their AAA depth with this trade. Walker,29, has only pitched 22 ⅓ major league innings, and has a 6.45 ERA. 

Carreno was signed as an international free agent by the Pirates in 2023. He looked good this season in rookie ball, going 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA and striking out 36 hitters in 21 ⅔ innings.

Pirates trade right-handed pitcher Jun-Seok Shim and infielder Garret Forrester to Miami for outfielder Bryan De La Cruz

The Pirates were rumored to be after Jazz Chisolm, Taylor Ward, and Yandy Diaz during the deadline, but instead landed outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, 27, from the Marlins. De La Cruz instantly improves a Pirates outfield that, besides Bryan Reynolds, has done very little. De La Cruz’s 18 home runs would tie him for the team lead with Reynolds. He was hitting .245 and is one homer away from his career high. He does strike out at a higher rate (118 in 424 at bats) but will add much needed pop to the middle of the Pirates lineup. He has played mostly left field in Miami, but has seen some time in right field, where he is expected to play in Pittsburgh. 

The 20-year-old Shim was signed for $750,000 as an international free agent last year. He’s missed a lot of time to injury, with just eight official innings on his ledger. However, he is a pitcher who can hit triple digits and if he stays healthy can be a major league starter down the road.

Forrester, 22, was a third-round pick in 2023. He was hitting .273/.413/.382 in High-A this year while splitting time between catcher, first base and third base.  

The Pirates did an excellent job of improving their outfield without having to move top prospects. De La Cruz has not yet qualified for arbitration and is earning around league minimum. He will pass three years of service time this season and qualify for arbitration this winter, with the Pirates able to retain him for three seasons after this one.

Pirates trade outfielder Charles McAdoo to Toronto for utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa and cash considerations

Kiner-Falefa has basically played every position on a major league diamond, he has even pitched. He brings a strong glove and versatility to the field for Pittsburgh. He has not played a major league game since June 30 due to a left knee sprain, but his is two games into a minor league rehab assignment and is expected to be activated within the next few days, assuming no setbacks. The 29-year-old is having his best overall season as a hitter. He is hitting .292 and his seven home runs are only one away from tying his career high. With Nick Gonzales hurt for a longer period of time, Kiner-Falefa will fill in at second and most likely see some time in the outfield for the Bucs. He is under contract for next season at $7.5MM.

Charles McAdoo has moved up the Pirates prospect board quickly since being drafted in the 13th round out of San Jose State last season. He was the No. 11 prospect in the mid-season Draft Nation top 15 Pirates prospects. Between high-A and AA this season he is hitting .315/.394/.538 with 14 home runs. 

The Pirates gave up a solid prospect for Kiner-Falefa, but when healthy, his versatility and overall game will be a blessing to the Pirates lineup.

Pirates trade starting pitcher Martin Perez to San Diego for left-handed pitching prospect Ronaldys Jimenez

When Jared Jones returns from the IL, the Pirates will have a gluttony of starting pitching. Even with the earlier trade of Quinn Priester to Boston, Perez was likely on the outside looking in when it came to the starting five. Perez had some solid outing earlier in the season, but recently seemed to be struggling with giving up solid contact. On the season he was 2-5 with a 5.20 ERA in 16 starts.

The Pirates scouts really liked what they saw in Ronaldys Jimenez, enough that Pittsburgh will send around $1.3MM to the Padres in salary relief. Jimenez, 18, was signed as an international free agent by San Diego last year. He has started three games in the Dominican Summer League, throwing just six innings. 

Pirates trade minor league pitcher Patrick Reilly to Baltimore for minor league outfielder Billy Cook

This is the trade that most likely went under the radar. The Pirates traded from their area of strength again to grab a young prospect at a position of need. Reilly was rated No. 7 in Draft Nation’s mid-season Pirates prospects, and is only 22-years-old. Reilly has made 19 starts at High-A this year, pitching to a 3.38 ERA in 88 innings of work. His 108 strikeouts are very impressive, although his 41 walks are more than you’d like to see.

Baltimore has a wealth of hitters in their organization, and there was nowhere for the 25-year-old Cook to go. Since being drafted in the 10th round in the 2021 draft, he has risen through the ranks of the Orioles system. In 85 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season, he is hitting .275 with 17 doubles, four triples, and 12 home runs. He has also stolen 16 bases. Cook has played first, second, and third base, as well as all three outfield positions. His best skill set however is in the outfield. The Pirates may have given up the “better” prospect in the deal, but the fact that Cook is closer to making his MLB debut may be seen as more important to the Buccos brass.