ESPN Names Pirates Among Winners Of MLB Trade Deadline

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a splash at the MLB Trade Deadline and they’re receiving praise for it.

Pittsburgh was looking out for themselves at the deadline, making moves to win now and for the future. The Pirates acquired second baseman Nick Yorke from the Boston Red Sox, adding a prospect who could play a big part in their future. They also moved Martin Perez to add prospect Ronaldys Jimenez from the San Diego Padres.

The major moves to help them this season included the lineup help of Bryan De La Cruz from the Miami Marlins and Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Toronto Blue Jays. Pittsburgh also acquired two relievers for their bullpen via Jalen Beeks and Josh Walker.

All the moves made them winners at the MLB Trade Deadline, which ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle agrees with. In ESPN’s “Biggest Winners and Losers” article, Doolittle named the Pirates among the “other winners.”

“I was hoping for a head-turning splash,” Doolittle wrote. “Luis Robert Jr.! Cody Bellinger! The ghost of Honus Wagner! But for a team that is so often an afterthought this time of the year, I’ll take the additions of Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan De La Cruz and look forward to a second-half run on the strength of that exciting rotation. The Pirates didn’t dip too deeply into their prospect base and you could argue they could have pushed the envelope a little more. The best prospect they dealt was arguably Quinn Priester and they traded him for … another prospect (Nick Yorke).”

The Pirates are fighting for a spot in the playoffs this season with the third National League Wild Card spot in their sights.

More MLB: Pirates Pull Off Major Trade For Marlins Outfielder Prior To Trade Deadline