The July 30th trade deadline has come and gone and the Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the teams scrambling to improve their roster as they fight for a Wild Card playoff spot.
The 55-52 Pirates are in a tight race for the playoffs as they sit two games back from the No. 3 Wild Card playoff spot. Pittsburgh has been on fire recently, winning 10 of their last 14. This has been partially due to the success of the pitching staff who rank 11th in the league in ERA and are in the top five in quality starts.
Even with their recent success, Pittsburgh was active before the trade deadline, including deals with the Boston Red Sox for second base prospect Nick Yorke and the Colorado Rockies for left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks the day before the deadline. The Pirates most recently dealt Martín Pérez to the San Diego Padres according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf.
“Padres reportedly acquiring (Left-handed pitcher) Martín Pérez from Pirates, per multiple reports including MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf.”
Pérez was signed to a one-year, $8 million deal to help boost the Pirates’ rotation depth. After a strong beginning to the season, he hasn’t been pitching as great lately. The emergence of All-Star Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, and Luis Ortiz, along with the great pitching by Mitch Keller has left the Pirates not needing Pérez down the stretch.
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In exchange for Pérez, the Pirates received 18-year-old Ronaldys Jimenez. Jimenez was signed by the Padres last June and had a 1.51 ERA across three starts in the Padres’ Dominican Summer League squad. During this time, he struck out eight in six innings pitched.
In addition to being a young pitcher with potential, this trade also granted the Pirates financial savings for other trade deadline moves. This trade was a great move for the Pirates.
More MLB: Pirates Reportedly Pull Off Trade For Mets To Add Intriguing Reliever
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Featured image via Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports