PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pirates did trade a pitcher from their starting rotation and added a minor-league outfielder/second baseman for a highly rated minor-league pitcher.
First reported by Francys Romero, left-handed starter Martin Perez was moved from a crowded rotation to the San Diego Padres for 18-year-old pitcher Ronaldys Jimenez. He is a 5’11” left-hander out of the Dominican Republic who threw in three games in the Dominican Summer League giving up a run in six innings with eight strikeouts, two walks and two hit batters.
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The 33-year-old Perez signed a one-year deal with the Pirates this offseason for $8 million. He was 2-5, 5.20 ERA in 16 starts, 83 innings, 1.65 WHIP with the Bucs. The veteran was a leader in the clubhouse who pitched his best game in what ended up being his last game with the Bucs going six shutout innings allowing four hits and striking out five. Perez said just a few weeks ago how much he was looking forward to being in a playoff race with the Pirates.
Pitcher for Position player
The Bucs sent their 20th best prospect, right-handed starter Patrick Reilly, to Baltimore for outfielder/2B Billy Cook according to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo. The 5’11”, 205-pound Cook is primarily an outfielder hitting .275 with 17 doubles and 12 home runs with an .841 OPS between AA and AAA. The numbers actually better in AAA, 11 homers, 15 doubles, .857 OPS, .372 on-base percentage. The right-handed hitter was the Orioles 10th round pick out of Pepperdine in 2021. He is Baltimore’s 28th ranked prospect and projected to reach the majors at some point this season.
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Reilly was the Bucs fifth round pick in 2023 out of Vanderbilt. The 6’3”, 22-year-old was 5-4 at High A Greensboro with a 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP with 108 strikeouts in 88 innings.