PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – If you are looking ahead to the end of the month and how general manager Ben Cherington could help out this Pirates roster, know history will tell you not much. Or if it does become an impact, it won’t be until a few years down the road.
Since their last playoff season in 2015, the Pirates have acquired 28 players during the month of July. Three are currently on the active roster, two are starters and three others are on the 40-man roster, all in AAA.
The biggest impact player is Oneil Cruz. Representing the Bucs in the Home Run Derby and leading the team in home runs and stolen bases, Cruz was acquired in 2017 as part of the Tony Watson trade to the Dodgers. Cruz was in the lowest levels of the minors and took until 2021 to reach the majors. He had two at bats in the majors four years following the trade and it wasn’t until six years after the trade he become an MLB player only.
The other current starter is Isiah Kiner-Falefa, picked up from the Toronto Blue Jays last year in return for an infield prospect (Charles McAdoo).
IKF was to be the super utility player, but has ended up the regular shortstop.
Jack Suwinski was just recalled from AAA. He originally came to the Pirates in 2021 for current teammate Adam Frazier. Suwinski was an AA outfielder and the next season would hit 19 home runs and 26 the following season with the Pirates.
The other three players are all in AAA—Colin Holderman who until this season was a steady part of the bullpen. The righty looked like a steal from the Mets for Daniel Vogelbach, a 3.86 ERA in 2023 and 3.16 ERA in 2024. Also, a pair of players from last year, Billy Cook and Nick Yorke, neither can break through to get an extended look in the majors.
MLB value
Over the span of that time, the Bucs did add a few major league ready players. They had the best luck with relievers, however the position player other than IKF didn’t work out.
· Lefty reliever Jalen Beeks from Colorado for LHP Luis Peralta. Beeks made 26 appearances, 20.2 innings, 9 walks, 17 strikeouts, 3.92 ERA, 1.79 WHIP.
· Jun-Seok Shim & Garret Forrester traded to Miami for outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, who was supposed to add power, but hit 3 home runs in 168 plate appearances with a .200 average, .514 OPS.
· Bucs added a starting pitcher in 2021, Bryse Wilson (and Ricky DeVito) from Atlanta for reliever Richard Rodriguez. Wilson would start 28 games in 33 appearances going 4-13, 5.37 ERA, 156 innings, 42 walks, 102 strikeouts, 1.37 WHIP with the Pirates.
· Pirates wanted to make a splash in 2017 to show they were in it, getting reliever Keone Kela from the Rangers for Taylor Hearn. Kela was good, 2-1, 2.49 ERA, 47 innings, 17 walks, 58 strikeouts, 1.04 WHIP with the Bucs.
· Then THE trade, sending Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and Shane Baz to Tampa Bay for Chris Archer. The righty would make 10 starts for the Bucs after the trade going 3-3, 4.30 ERA, 1.35 WHIP. The next year in Pittsburgh--23 starts, 3-9, 5.19 ERA, 1.41 WHIP.
· Righty reliever Joaquin Benoit ended his career with the Pirates after being traded from Philly for RHP Seth McGarry. In 8 appearances after the trade, Benoit was 0-2, 7.56 ERA, 8.1 innings 6 walks, 3 strikeouts and a 2.04 WHIP.
· Left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero came from Washington and was outstanding. He would change his name to Felipe Vazquez, became an all-star and then a horrific criminal.
Then there are a bunch of others acquired. How many do you remember?
· LHP Ronaldys Jimenez (19-years-old, 2-1, 4.09 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 12g, 23BB, 8HPB, 33K in Pirates Rookie ball)
· LHP Josh Walker (9IP in AAA, 8R, 11K)
· SS Jhonny Severino (20-years-old, 73 games, .199, .263 on-base percentage, .595 OPS 12 doubles, 7 home runs, 32 RBI in A Bradenton)
· C Carter Bins (25, AA Altoona, 66g, .193/.302/.656, 8HR, 8-2B)
· RHP Joaquin Tejada (21, Bucs rookie ball, 8g, 10IP, 12R, 13BB, 7K)
· INF Hoy Park (career in MLB with Pirates 67g, .202/.641, 20-2B, HR)
· INF Diego Castillo (96 games with the Pirates in 2022 .206/.633, 13-2B, 11HR, currently AAA w KC .265/.813)
· RHP Michell Miliano (currently in Frontier League, in 2024, in High A, 29g, 1-1, 3.86 ERA, 44.1IP, 26BB, 61K, 1.46 WHIP)
· INF Tucupita Marcano (2023 v Pirates 75g, .233/.276/.633, 12-2B, 3HR, on baseball’s ineligible list)
· LHP Nathan Kirby (last in baseball in 2022 w AAA 0-1, 2.74 ERA, 23 IP, 22BB, 18K, 10 wild pitches, 1.91 WHIP)
· C Abrahan Gutierrez (25-years-old, .250/.333/.628, 28g, 1-2B, 1-HR, injured)
· RHP Cody Ponce (Pirates 1-7, 5.86 ERA, 55.1IP, 17BB, 48K, 1.52 WHIP, now 31-years-old-this year in Korea 11-0, 1.95 ERA, 115.2IP, 161K, 26BB, 0.86 WHIP)
· RHP Angel German (last pitched in ’19 in AA, 3-3, 4.33 ERA, 52IP, 31BB, 48K, 1.23 WHIP)
· LHP Taylor Hearn (2018 in AA, 3-6, 3.12 ERA, 19 starts, 104IP, 38BB, 107K, 1.08 WHIP, currently in Japan 1-1, 3.10 ERA, 29g, 31K, 7BB, 1.17 WHIP)
· RHP Ricky DeVito (currently in AA with Miami w 4.23 ERA in 19g w 31K, 26BB in 27.2IP)
If you are anticipating big things from the July trade deadline, temper your expectations. The best player in the group took over a half a decade to establish a major league career. In 2023, MLB ended the waiver-trade deadline moves in August as the highlighted players to come after waivers since 2015 are Bailey Falter and Johan Oviedo.