The Indians announced Wednesday that they’ve acquired outfielder Jordan Luplow and infielder Max Moroff from the Pirates in exchange for utility man Erik Gonzalez and minor league right-handers Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza. The Pirates, too, have issued a press release announcing the move.
In Luplow, Cleveland adds an outfield option to a perilously thin mix. The 2014 third-rounder has yet to find success in the big leagues, but he’s raked to the tune of a .300/.378/.479 slash with 15 homers and 11 steals in 539 Triple-A plate appearances across the past two seasons. Luplow won’t turn 26 until next September, so there’s still plenty of time for him to carry that Triple-A productivity over to the big league level.
[Related: Updated Cleveland Indians depth chart and Pittsburgh Pirates depth chart]
From a defensive standpoint, Luplow has played all three positions in the Majors, albeit just 14 innings in center, and drawn generally positive reviews. In 382 2/3 innings of outfield work as a Major Leaguer, he’s posted +4 Defensive Runs Saved, a 3.1 Ultimate Zone Rating and an even mark in Statcast’s Outs Above Average. Luplow still has a minor league option remaining, so he can be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers if he doesn’t crack the roster out of Spring Training next year.
Moroff, also 25, has had similar struggles to this point in his young Major League career, hitting .193/.293/.331 in a tiny sample of 209 plate appearances. Like Luplow, he’s fared better in Triple-A, where he’s a .233/.363/.399 hitter in 1045 plate appearances. He joins the Indians with more than 2700 minor league innings at second base, 1900-plus innings at shortstop and 601 innings at the Triple-A level.
In Gonzalez, the Pirates will acquire a versatile infield option who’s had more big league success than Moroff to this point, though he’s yet to truly thrive at the plate. Gonzalez hit .265/.301/.375 in 143 PAs this past season and is a career .267/.306/.406 hitter in Triple-A. He’s out of minor league options, so he’ll jump right into the mix for playing time with the Pirates in 2019 — a sentiment that was emphasized by general manager Neal Huntington in a press release announcing today’s trade.
“Erik Gonzalez is an athletic middle infielder who plays solid defense and has the potential to be a productive hitter at the major league level,” said Huntington. “He gives us another quality option to play shortstop or in the middle of our infield this year and into the future.”
Thomas, 19, spent this past season pitching for the Indians’ Rookie-level affiliate in Arizona, though he pitched just 19 2/3 innings in total. Overall, he’s totaled 58 professional innings since signing out of the Bahamas as a 16-year-old, and he’s posted a 5.28 ERA with a 61-to-43 K/BB ratio in that time. The bottom-line results are rough, but Thomas did land 30th on MLB.com’s ranking of the Indians’ prospects, with Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo writing that the projectable righty should add velocity to what is already a 92-95 mph fastball. He also draws praise for his athleticism and a potentially above-average curve, but he’s still several years away from being anywhere near big league ready. Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen was a bit more bullish, ranking him 26th in what he tweets is a “very deep” Cleveland system.
Mendoza is also 19 and also spent the most recent season pitching for the Indians’ Rookie affiliate in the Arizona League. He worked to a 4.58 ERA in 37 1/3 innings with 37 strikeouts against 20 walks. Longenhagen tweets that Mendoza is another “projection arm,” crediting him for two above-average secondary offerings and an 87-90 mph heater that figures to tick upwards as his 6’5″ frame fills out.
The swap also opens a spot on the Pirates’ 40-man roster, as they’re dealing two big leaguers for Gonzalez and a pair of right-handers who are years from needing 40-man protection. The trade, then, gives them a potential upgrade in terms of utility infielder while also giving the front office some additional flexibility in advance of next Tuesday’s deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft.
I dont know anything about those pitchers, but seems like the Pirates just gave Luplow away for a utility player they dont need.
I’ve never gotten the impression that Luplow is much more than a platoon option in a corner outfield spot, and they can find a player like that pretty much anywhere. Gonzalez is certainly better than Moroff as organizational depth IMO.
They opened a spot on their 40 man, right? Do they have a few prospects who need protecting?
They need to protect Keller, Tucker, and Martin, and I believe they only had 2 spots with Harrison, and Mercer leaving.
Luplow and Moroff were on the 40 man so this give them one more to use to protect all 3 now.
Gonzalez was a top prospect and defensive wizz. He should be able to at least play for his glove but I expect more and would have liked to see the cards get him
Prayers have been answered.
I’m assuming you’re referring to the prayers of Thanksgiving that we won’t have to see Luplow next year. Moroff isn’t much better. Doesn’t matter much whom the Pirates got—it’s a win for Pittsburgh, even if this Mendoza reminds us of another Mendoza the Pirates had: Mario.
Mario’s son? 🙂
Nah, but there is an Al’s son.
So happy that I will not have to see either one of these starting over someone more deserving.
Still can’t believe Hurdle would often start Luplow instead of Meadows.
meh
Exactly. This is a very meh trade from all angles.
Your comment is meh.
On the cheap cheap cheap. Light up the news wire to make it seem like something was actually done but really amounts to nothing. Could have saved the press release and everyone’s time
Dante Mendoza, the new Pedro Martinez.
And you could have saved all the time of not reading your stupidity too.
Of not reading my stupidity? I wrote it you read it! Douche
For what it’s worth, these are the kind of trades small market teams are forced to make. Basically throw crap at the wall and see what happens. As a tribe fan, I remember how we got Corey Kluber, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Shin Soo Choo. All those trades seemed like they were worth glossing over
Good point.
Stop, you’re only reinforcing the sterotype that all Pirate fans do is complain about the team being cheap.
That’s kinda the point
Didn’t see this coming but I don’t see a major give by the Pirates. Luplow was mostly awful in his starts and Moroff was no better. Looking at the middle infield market I doubt the Pirates would have found one in their price range with the same versatility and production.
I’m not a fan of trading away Gonzalez. Hopefully Luplow can find his place in Cleveland, moroff doesn’t seem like much.
He’s not starting for the Tribe now or ever. Why not trade him and get something back?
Pardon me as I try to contain my excitement. Real creative Tribe FO.
What a huge blockbuster deal to start the offseason.
Seems much like deck chair rearrangement.
Gonzalez could be interesting, Thomas too I guess. Other then those two, this move just seems like a 40-man roster reconstruction in the form of a trade.
Sounds like the Tribe just got a cheap replacement for Guyer.
Bingo.
Correct. Replace one below average player with two below average players! Win win!
Exactly, and not sure how this guy offers anything more than Tavares. Filling the outfield with a bunch of half-assed players is some strategy…
Dolans Discounts are back! Come to Progressive Field and watch the KMart Blue Light Special roster take the field.
{chuckle} The only thing that’s back are so-called Cleveland “fans” who are neither insightful nor perceptive. The same fans who trashed the Sabathia and Cliff Lee deals and yawned when Kluber, Choo, Shaw, and Cabrera were acquired. In other words, the know-nothing peanut gallery is back in full force. The only good thing about reading these comments is the comfort of realizing PIttsburgh is afflicted by the same level of fan understanding.
The key pieces of the Sabathia and Lee deals ended up being garbage. Luckily for them the throw in of Brantley was a late bloomer. Carrasco took forever to look like a major leaguer and had to crash and burn then re-invent himself much like Lee did years prior to that. When Kluber, Choo, Shaw and Cabrera were acquired they were mostly yawn worthy to the mere mortals (and their old organizations that gave up on them) unlike the baseball savant like you.
Avory,unfortunately there are few in this sporting world who have your sophistication,knowledge,intelligence,and brilliance.Please keep on sharing your innermost thoughts so that the rest of us can become much more enlightened.You have impressed me unlike almost no other.When I grow up I want to be just like you.
Cheap and with an option remaining.
Can we stop using the term “rake, raked, raking” when it comes to baseball? Lol
It’s amazing how many seem upset that an organizational depth trade was made between 2 teams. So what if it wasn’t some huge trade. Do you expect those types to be made at this point of the off season? Because if you do, then you’ve not paid much attention through the years.
Really nothing more than a depth for depth trade. However even though I don’t think he’ll be an all-star or anything, I would like to see what Luplow could do given more consistent playing time.
Same for Gonzalez; he has some upside but was never going to see it in Cleveland.
I’m not a real fan of trading Erik Gonzalez, but if you go by OPS+ then swapping him out for Moroff (who also has options) isn’t a terrible idea. You can replace the offense he provided last year, and if it means giving yourself a little more flexibility then so be it I guess.
Mendoza is kind of just a guy, but Thomas is actually someone I was intrigued by. His numbers were actually really impressive in rookie ball until he got bombed in one or two appearances, if I’m not mistaken. I think he was a position player at first too, so he’s fascinating.
Luplow never really struck me as much more than a fringe 40-man guy, but he’s a living body capable of playing the outfield so at this point I can’t really complain. He’s also young enough that you can hope for him to become something, but I feel like I say that for a lot of AAAA guys and give them the benefit of the doubt so I’m not really betting on much more.
To me, this kinda just seems like a very bland trade on the surface, so I’m assuming that each side sees something they really like in the guys they got because I doubt they’d waste the time negotiating a 5-player deal otherwise.
Whoops, I misread. Luplow is the one that still has an option left, but otherwise my point still stands.
A change of scenery may help a couple of these guys, and the teams, as well. I like Luplow a little.
I like this trade moroff and Ludlow are the type of guys we need get rid of and to get 2 lottery ticket young pitchers and a utility guy who is better then them is a win for the pirates
HOT DAMN! …thats a boring trade
Ikr. I seen 5 player deal and this was about as disappointing of 5 players that they could’ve traded.
Even Pittsburgh being a small market team, they can still afford a quality player for second base or shortstop. This is just another cheap maneuver made by Neil and bob. We will be seller dwellers this year for sure if we continue to make movies like this. If you don’t put decent players on the field, you won’t get anybody in the stands. Pirates are cheap and embarrassing to Pittsburgh. Shame on you Neil and bob. Sell. Sell.
Calm down fellow Bucco fan. They are not planning on having Gonzalez start at SS. The plan is for him to be a bench player.
Do you actually think it’s spelled “seller” dwellers? If not….it’s actually pretty creative. Hahaha
Also, this strikes me as a depth move. Newman, Kramer, Frazier, and who could forget the great Pablo Reyes? Newman and Kramer remain unproven and in my estimation, vastly overrated. Prospects are valued too highly in the modern MLB. Not to mention ones that have come up through the Buccos system 😐
So basically another minor trade like Seattle and Tampa
I really know nothing about Gonzalez but this may be the front office way to appease Hurdle in replacing old JHay/ SRod super utility position.Unfortunately,he had to give up his guy Luplow in the trade.
This tells me that the Pirates gave up on both players after two different tries in two different years for each.I do think that they clearly lose good minor league depth,although I doubt that either will make a starting player in the MLs.
The two young guys are clearly wild cards,and the Pirates may be overacting in that they have gone against tradition and traded good and young players in the two deadline swaps this year.
And,no,Mendoza is no relation.
heres comes the playoffs..
That extra roster spot is more important than it seems. Even if Luplow and Moroff provide more value than Gonzalez next year (or in a future year), this move essentially allows you to not lose someone with a higher ceiling or higher floor (Tucker, Martin, etc.).
Outside of that, I was a Moroff fan due to his exceptional defensive abilities. Obviously if he never hits better than he’s done, then you can’t have him on your active roster consistently; but with modest improvements, he could be elite on D (Wong, Simmons, etc.) While the sample size is small, even at SS (he’s primarily played 2B), he has a higher UZR/150 than anyone else who has played SS the last few years.
However, given the need for that roster spot and more certainty with Gonzalez, this was a smart move to make. Cleveland is my current hometown team, so hopefully Luplow can win, hold down, and excel in Cleveland’s OF.
According to my own system that I developed for the evaluation of players’ relative values (incidentally, I began developing this with Pittsburgh’s SS position in mind!)… Erik Gonzalez scores about a 117. The system weighs offensive and defensive averages at the SS position, weighted more towards offense; 2/3 offense and 1/3 defense. Simple yet informative.
#1 on my rankings is Francisco Lindor with a score of 13, indicating great offense AND great defense. The lowest-ranked everyday SS in my system is Alcides Escobar with a score of 162, indicating poor offense AND poor defense. At a score of 117, Gonzalez ranks around the same area as Jorge Polanco (113), Freddy Galvis (117), and Adeiny Hechavarria (118).
For comparison, Jordy Mercer scores a 104. So Gonzalez would be slightly less valuable than Mercer, and about the same as Galvis and Hechavarria, who have been frequently connected with the Pirates this offseason as potential targets. It would appear that the Bucs found a way to acquire a backup (or a Plan B) in case they are unable to acquire preferred starting SSs.
FYI, Jose Iglesias also scores a 104, identical to Mercer.
Also, if Tim, Jeff, Steve, or anyone else here at MLBTR is interested in this system, just ask! LDS_Libertarian@yahoo.com.