The Pirates have landed their new first baseman, announcing agreement with the Rays on a deal that brings in Ji-Man Choi. Minor league pitcher Jack Hartman goes to Tampa Bay in a one-for-one swap.
The move brings to an end Choi’s four-plus year tenure in Tampa Bay. The Rays first acquired the first baseman from the Brewers in June 2018, sending utilityman Brad Miller to Milwaukee in a swap of big leaguers. Choi hit the ground running, putting up a .269/.370/.506 line in 49 games down the stretch. He staked a claim to a regular job in the Rays first base/designated hitter rotation, one he’s held the past few years.
Choi has been an above-average overall hitter in each of the past three seasons. He strikes out a fair amount and has hit between .229 and .233 the whole time, but he compensates for the mediocre batting averages by drawing plenty of free passes. Choi has walked in around 14% of his plate appearances in each of the last three years, pushing his on-base percentage into the .330 to .350 range. He typically gets into the double-digits in home runs and approaches 20 doubles annually.
Going back to the start of 2020, Choi owns a .231/.342/.399 line in 869 cumulative plate appearances. That offensive production checks in 14 points better than league average, by measure of wRC+. A left-handed hitter, Choi has only mustered a .203/.290/.301 line in his career against southpaws. He’s a .247/.355/.454 hitter against right-handed pitching, making him a solid platoon option for first base and designated hitter. It’s not too dissimilar from the role Daniel Vogelbach played for the Bucs in 2022 before they dealt him to the Mets.
Choi has between five and six years of MLB service, so he’s going through the arbitration process for the final time. MLTBR contributor Matt Swartz projects him for a $4.5MM salary, a modest but not completely insignificant amount. He was part of a large arbitration class in Tampa Bay and looked like a possible non-tender candidate. Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweeted yesterday the Rays were marketing Choi at this week’s GM meetings. Morosi added pitchers Ryan Yarbrough, Yonny Chirinos and Shawn Armstrong as other players the Tampa Bay front office was discussing with other teams.
The Pirates entered the offseason seeking first base help, and they’ll take on Choi’s final season of club control to plug that gap. Factoring in his arbitration projection brings the Bucs’ 2023 payroll slate to an estimated $50MM, per Roster Resource. Pittsburgh opened this past season with a payroll in the $56MM range. The Pirates are sure to search for catching help and are likely to bolster their starting rotation within the next few months, even as they field offers on big leaguers like Kevin Newman as part of the ongoing rebuild. Choi himself could be a midseason trade candidate if he’s hitting up to his usual standards and the Pirates fall back out of contention next summer.
Hartman, meanwhile, was a fourth-round pick in 2020. Pittsburgh nabbed him out of Appalachian State University as a $60K senior signee. The 24-year-old righty spent this year in Low-A, working as a reliever. He put up a 6.27 ERA through 18 2/3 innings, striking out a below-average 20.4% of opponents against a massive 17.2% walk rate. The Rays will hope a change of scenery can push him up the minor league ladder; he’d be eligible for the Rule 5 draft next offseason if not added to the 40-man roster.
Naver Sports in Korea was first to report Choi had been traded to the Pirates. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported the Rays would receive a minor league player in return.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Darn, I was hoping Tigers would’ve got him. Good pick up yee mateys
Great, another low average-high strike out player
He’ll fit right in with a team that had a collective batting average of around.230 and set a franchise record for team strikeouts
Who were you expecting? Rizzo??
Choi is an upgrade, try to think positive
Choi is a huge fan favorite, a perfect pickup for non-contending teams. Pirates made a good choice acquiring him.
I was expecting cheapskate Nutting to open his tight wallet to sign a premium first baseman
I know, that’s a pipe dream
Gerrit Cole is doing backflips right now!
YES YE YES PIRATES WHOOOOOO
Ohhh wowzers!!!! That is so cool! Good for G-Man and good for the Pirates. I hope he does well. The guy plays with heart.
Just make sure you close the all-you-can-eat-bar by midnight. What is it with the Pirates & their lust for beefy players? Does the FO laugh as they watch them run the bases?
Curly old sport, I was on baseball reference a min ago and saw Choi was listed as 6’1 260LB and I was flabbergasted hahahahaha I know he is a big guy but sheesh hahahah. Oh well. I saw him do olympic caliber splits at 1B once so I ain’t too worried.
Trumbo, I saw that once as well, I guess I’m glad I don’t have to do his laundry, blood & fecal matter is hard to get out…
I’d pay money to see a “Fat Guy” race at the All Star game. Each team could have a representative that has to weigh in above 250 lbs to be eligible.
Should you find this offensive, put down your fork.
Wrong. Shows that you haven’t actually watched him play. He plays a decent first base, very flexible. Respectable speed for his size. Had a decent few years with the Rays, fell off a cliff the second half last year. Excellent PH’er and an excellent eye at the plate.
Just what the Bucs need, a pinch hitter when they’re 8 runs down…
excellent eye at the plate? I guess for the Pirates he’ll fit right in since he struck out 100+ times last year
Like I said….he fell off a cliff from June on. Check his numbers from 2019 to 2021. Well over .300 as a ph. I’m not going to argue with you. He was a decent player for the Rays for a few years. I watched him. He’ll do just fine until Nunez is ready.
I understand he had a horrible second half but he’s 31 years old and now past his prime
It could be that he’s now in the down part of his career and his best years are behind him
The Bucs have a history of trading for or signing players who are well beyond their prime
Oh yeah name 6?
TrumboJumbo;
It’s going to be a mess here for months.
95% of what’s written (from sources) will prove later to have never even been discussed. Lot’s of posturing by teams and agents, etc.
What’s funny is that most of the transactions that seem to make a team better or worse will be forgotten by late May / early June. It’s the players on a team that get better or worse as well as prospects that emerge that shuffle the standings each year.
Remember the last trade the Rays made with the pirates lmao
Worst in history
Not. Even. Close.
It was listed top 10 worst trades in baseball…
By ESPN i believe
As we all know, if you see a top 10 list on the internet, you must treat it like dogma.
Each of the 4 players in that transaction is a mess. Neither team bathed themselves in glory with that trade. Call it bad if you want and certainly it was not good but it also was a long way from the “worst ever.”
At Xmas time, it’s Choi to the world in Pittsburgh!!
Retire21- I think that what these posters must mean is that it was the worst trade ever”in that particular year”.
They could not possibly be so stupid as to think that it was the worst in all of the 140+ years of baseball history.
Could they?
If espn says it then it has to be true. It was a fair trade. A pitcher they couldn’t fix control. Those guys will get traded for a 2 month rental. A very average hitter corner of dh. Baz was the real prize and a very raw undeveloped prospect. For 4 cheap seasons of a mid rotation starter who could should have been that if they didn’t change who he pitched. Who BC would have gotten some prospects back if he didn’t get hurt.
Archer had injury issues. Ended up with Thoratic Outlet syndrome. Had nothing to do with trying to add pitches to his arsenal.
@gozurman1 You need to put some time in the film room buddy.
At bed time it’s the Choi of sex
These trade feels like a gimme from the Rays in a sort of thank you for the last one
TB would have NTed him.
@DarkSide830 Pirates would rather have the cash instead of Hartman.
You mean when the Rays picked up the injury prone pitcher. the unproven pitcher and the mediocre outfielder? Yeah I remember it.
I remember that nightmare yes.
Never lost much sleep myself much less a nightmare. Glasnow would not have helped much as he spent much of the time on the DL since the trade. Baz had promise now he had his first TJ surgery, Back when the deal was made I said that the Bucs parted with Meadows because of Reynolds and got laughed at. Was told that the Bucs should have kept Meadows and sent Reynolds instead. Glad that they didn’t.
Hiflew reminding me not to read the comments here, I think they take away iq points. But thanks for your, uh, “interpretation” of the trade. I am sure the Pirates wouldn’t want any of those guys back, and Arch did kill it for them.
Please do refrain from reading my comments then. You obviously cannot afford to lose any more IQ points.
Such stupid comments but I guess that trade is the hill you choose to die on. In 2 years with Rays Meadows hit around 50 hrs and helped in a world series run, Glasnow ( when/if healthy) is an ace,, and TJ for Baz means nothing most pitchers have one and come back fine. He is only 22.Archer was a complete bust and every baseball fan (not you) know it. Not sure why you are so obsessed with trying to prove otherwise
Mr suntan-Long time Pirates fan here.Very few non Pirate fans know the background behind the Archer trade.The Pirates had just swept the Brewers in a five game series.After two years of mediocrity following three excellent years they decided to go against their normal conservative outlook regarding trading for young players and instead traded three of them.The problem with this rationale was that the one player acquired was a pitcher and as we are all aware they generally have short shelf lives.
Most of us did not question it at the time as for once they were going for it instead of just trying to compete.My only question was whether Baz needed to be included as I knew that both Meadows and Glasnow had relatively high ceilings.But Meadows was correctly predicted to be just a reasonably good player by the Pirates,and Glasnow frustrated everyone,including himself over his three year ML career.
Meadows had the good year in 2019 but even Kevin Newman batted well over 300 that year.Glasnow as pointed out has been injured almost all of the four and a half years since.
I think that Pirate fans need to acknowledge that it was a bad trade because of the lack of success of Archer,largely attributed to injuries.
Manyof the posters on here,though,are Monday morning quarterbacks with negative bents to bad teams,which the Pirates have been lately.This includes the numerous negative Yinzers who are especially bad,although I feel their frustrations.I do find it interesting though that the Reynolds trade is rarely mentioned in all of their negativity as it was more of a success in my opinion than the Archer trade has been for the Rays.
With the three young players in involved the extent of the lean to the Rays will not be accurately determined for another two- three years.This will largely be determined by the pitching health of both Glasnow and Baz.That will determine whether it was about the worst trade of the year,or of the decade.
Many of us Pirate fans have been hearing this negativity for so many years now that some of us tend to become defensive.Nothing is going to occur to make this trade one of the worst of all time.Glasnow and Baz will both have to become borderline HOF’ers for that to become true,
Injury prone pitcher??? Glasnow?? Yep.. he’s the first pitcher to have TJ surgery. Every team would take him in a second, and Baz….unproven? What’s that even mean? He was a rookie. Really?
A starting pitcher that has averaged 62 innings a year for the 5 years he has been there. Yeah I am sticking with injury prone.
Unproven means unproven. He has done nothing yet in the majors. Should I just assume he will win a Cy Young in the future because someone at Baseball America put his name on a list instead?
hiflew: All of your erudite comments about the Bucs have merit, hold water and are expressed clearly. However, I learned a long time ago all the logic in the world won’t convince anyone of anything when you tell them something they don’t want to hear.
Been following the Bucs for a long time. I go all the way back to the O’Brien twins, Bob Friend and Elroy Face.
You predate me with the O’Brian twins from the mid fifties.
Proves neither of us are young men.
Mendoza,
Been around the bases more times than I care to remember: 77 times and still counting. I’m a big Phillies fan but also root for the Pirates when they aren’t playing against the Phillies.
When I was young boy, my father took me to a Phillies-Pirates game at old Connie Mack Stadium. After the game I stood by the Pirates team bus with my scorecard and pencil asking for autographs. The Pirate players, one after another, ignored me. All except Johnny O’Brien.
Anyway, from that point on I had a warm spot in my heart for the Pirates. And, as an aside, Al Oliver should be in the HOF!
Backup-I am relative youngster at 69 and grew up north of Pittsburgh.I always liked the Phillies though as they were another Pennsylvania team.I remember seeing them on the TV in 1962 and I always thought that Tony Taylor was a real good player.
It seems to me that just one guy signed for you is a shame.The Pirates were really bad in the early to mid fifties so they were probably bummed out to lose another game.
Seems like the team now.
Oliver started out at first base.His nickname was Scoops.They traded Matty Alou in 1969 and moved Oliver to centerfield.He was that good of a player.They traded him for Bert Blyleven in 1977 who took many years to get into the HOF.Maybe Oliver will still make it some day but if he does I hope that he is still alive to enjoy it.
@Mendoza Line 215 Where you at? I have been putting in solid work on these last couple quick hit Pirate articles. I need some thumbs up and a couple of your a bad man comments.
Dream-I am an old man young man and run out of energy.
There is a difference between a “ need” and a “want”.
I am realistic but not negative,although sometimes they are the same.
You are one of the few posters who can influence my outlook,but we generally agree with one another.
And for that I am appreciative.
That mediocre outfielder drove in more runs in 2 seasons with the Rays than any outfielder with the Bucs during that same timeframe
Yeah…that’s because the Rays had more base runners than the Pirates during that same timeframe.
Flashbacks for pirates fans
Sure but who cares about Sean Poppen?
Diamondbacks
Curious if they see him as a 1B or DH or float between the two
1B Chavis in the minors
They outrighted Chavis and he’s a minor league free agent. He’s not in their plans.
Ah alright.
Gerrit Cole just breathed a huge sigh of relief
as if Nutting would approve a trade for a pitcher that earns $30 million a year
I think he’s referring to how well Choi hits Cole. It’s uncanny. Cole is probably delighted to see him gone.
I would think he plays a similar role to what Vogelbach played with them last year with more innings at first
Part of that role is making Brewers fans nostalgic for portly and lovable first basemen. Who’s next? Jesus Aguilar?
Damn. This dude is a Rays legend.
VonPurpleHayes;
He had a bad year in 2022. Not just his hitting. His D was bad. The Rays can’t afford poor defensive ball players.
Pirates were the perfect team for him,,,and he for them.
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure Sam.
If he’s up to it, bring back Longoria. He plays mostly first, some 3rd and DHs a bit. Hopefully can stay healthy; when so, a playoff run contributor.
C Yards, I have always been a fan of his. He is from the same neck of the woods as me. Just don’t see the life in his bat anymore. That is my only issue.
@TrumboJumbo; thanks for the intel. An aging slumping bat is definitely cause for pause. Oof.
Fundamentals always…haha
1yr 4 million plus incentives(games played) Rays should do it if Longo would.
Von, I thought the Bucs might have been a good trading partner for our Phillies, and that they would pursue Rhys Hoskins for 1B, Dombro gonna have to look elsewhere if he trades Rhys.
Hopkins makes too much money for the Pirates.I would love to have him as DH only,but he is one of the streakiest hitters ever.
He is a terrible first baseman.
He also hit the hardest ball I have ever seen against the Pirates about five years ago.Left field near the line and it must have gone out in less than three seconds.
Just saw per baseball reference that Choi’s Agent is: “G-Man Sports Management.” Hahahahaha Anyone know anything about that?!???
I am it 🙂 Ji-man is my man!!!
gozurman1, 1 man 1 client only.. You remind me of Tom in The Godfather.
He makes too much to be a Ray
Insert eyeroll.
Or he was going to be non-tendered.
At least be original.
Non tendered because he’d make too much money. They’re cheap. It’s okay. They’re a well run team.
But is it not pathetic that 5 mil, or whatever he’d cost, is too much for a guy of Choi’s talent?
If Neander thought Choi was worth 5mm, he wouldn’t have been traded.
He is not worth 5 million. They will spend money this of season(some) on offense, this just free up 5 million, plus 13 due kk and 6 due ZMAN, 5 due Yarbourgh ect ect. They will sign one mid/upper level free agent bat and trade for another. Their window is still wide open.
Solid pickup for the Pirates but they definitely need to get him on a conditioning program.
They will need him for just one year if Gorki can stay healthy.. He is moving to 1b apparently.
I will always love Ji Man, hope he does well. He would prob have been non tendered…
Good pickup if you are getting the 2022 first half Choi & not the 2nd half version.
So Rays have shed some much needed money between KK & now Choi
*ring ring* Called it. And I hate it when people say “called it”, but I did call it. The fit was too obvious.
Oh Ji!
Not a terrible choice for a placeholder until the first baseman of the “good Pirates” comes along…hopefully in a year or two.
Is it the same Jack Hartman that signs children songs in the schools?
“And now , Deep Thoughts, by Jack Hartman…”
That was Jack Handy that did deep thoughts. Great segment.
I know it was but the names were close enough so I went for it.
Ji man. Clubhouse legend. Fan favorite too. He’ll rebound.
Solid pickup by the Pirates. Too expensive now for the Rays, especially as they do have other options at 1B.
Not to expensive. If he was worth his salary and they didn’t have a better value option they would keep him. Rays are just smart.
Still love your profile pic. Reminds me of the sexy green M&M.
She was fine. Still is but way better before. Might have to search for some pics of her if I get bored. Once I get a new phone or brain. I know the difference between to and too but somehow it never gets posted right.
There was a day when the G man meant something good. Today it means the G-men are corrupt, deceived, dead weight.
Politics have not been good for this player
This isn’t a bad move, but it’s definitely a Pirates move. Choi is OK, but not a difference maker for most clubs.
Pirates play dwarfs and aaa utility guys at 1b. One of the few teams or only team that Choi is a upgrade.
Rays are getting ready to make a big splash at 1B, COF, C and SP. Time to dumpster dive for veterans.
I thought that the Pirates would sign Don Smith if he was not tendered.
They still could if he is available.
Dom Smith would have been a great FA signing for the Bucs. Kinda got lost last year in NY after their off-season acquisitions. Not a lot of pop, but most likely better than Choi with both the bat and glove.
Good trade for the Rays. They need hitters. While this guy has had some surprising moments, he hasn’t been a consistent batter for them. Good to shake things up
So the Pirates will never learn, will they?
The most historic thing about this is the Pirates and Rays trade again. Ji-man is amazing: when healthy. He has been battling a lot of injuries. When he got going at the beginning of 2022 he was a statcast leader and carrying the Rays briefly. I think his best season would still be ahead of him, if healthy. The most important thing for the Rays is Hartman is healthy. Now the Rays have a year before the 2023 R5 to see if he can turn himself into something. He generates good spin rates on his fastball and curve ball, and both have plus velo. Command always comes later after Tommy John. Rays have had success fashioning a third pitch for pitchers who can throw two plus pitches that play well off one another (i.e. tunnelling, mirrored spin, and complementary break).
Search leads to his own personal website. Probably self-repping. And he’s listed at 250 lbs. in his bio.
Fwiw… I was at Citifield years ago watching Bartolo Colon do pre-game stretching. The man was doing full leg splits in the outfield. A sight to behold. Sure lived up to his moniker.
@Trumbo
Very glad to have a 1B on the roster. He’s a competent player that the Bucs can afford. The Bucs could have done a lot worse. Ji-Man is an entertaining player and Bucs fans will probably love him. Very happy about this. I was afraid the Bucs would wait until late March to fill this void. Let’s Go Bucs!
I have a to give the Pirates Credit for the upgrade at First/DH. JI-Man gets ON BASE and thats what we need in this Line Up. We didn’t give up anything to significant we have tons of hard throwing Bullpen Guys who can Walk as much as they Strike Out!
Great Pickup for the Pirates.
Really only good for the flip factor. hes well over 30 which doesn’t fit the rebuild. Pirates have other players that need time at first. With the increased cost for a player who has no business in a rebuild…
What they traded to get him is pretty good though, hard to say no. Hopefully they are able flip him sooner than later