The Pirates and Blue Jays have agreed to a trade that will send utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to Pittsburgh. The Bucs will also get some cash considerations as part of the deal, while the Jays will receive outfield prospect Charles McAdoo in return. The trade has been officially announced by both clubs. Toronto is reportedly paying down $1MM of the approximate $2.5MM remaining on Kiner-Falefa’s deal this season; they’ll also pick up roughly $1.22MM of the $7.5MM on his contract for next season.
Kiner-Falefa hasn’t played a big league game since June 30 due to a left knee sprain, but he is two games into a minor league rehab assignment and is expected to be activated within the next few days, assuming no setbacks. The 29-year-old now looks to be making his return in a new uniform, and joining a playoff race, with the Pirates two games back of an NL wild card slot.
Toronto signed Kiner-Falefa to a two-year, $15MM free agent deal this winter, and both the size of the contract and IKF’s landing spot surprised many pundits at the time. Kiner-Falefa has a history as a glove-first player and was coming off a rough year at the plate with the 2023 Yankees, and the Jays seemingly had little need for a utility infielder given their number of infield options already on hand. As it turned out, however, Kiner-Falefa ended up being an all-around bright spot in an otherwise disappointing Blue Jays season.
Over 281 plate appearances, Kiner-Falefa has hit .292/.338/.420 with seven home runs in a Jays uniform. His 116 wRC+ far outclasses the 81 wRC+ he posted in his first six MLB seasons, even if a fair amount of good fortune has been involved. Kiner-Falefa’s .331 wOBA is well above his .291 xwOBA, he has a .316 BABIP, and he ranks in the bottom tenth percentile of all hitters in walk rate, hard-hit ball rate, and barrel rate. While the hard contact hasn’t been there, Kiner-Falefa has made a lot of contact in general, with an excellent 13.2% strikeout rate.
This unexpected offense has been paired with IKF’s customary strong defense, as he has helped the Jays at second base, third base, and shortstop this year. Pittsburgh already has an elite defensive third baseman in Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz is locked into the shortstop role, so with Nick Gonzales now facing a lengthy stint on the 10-day IL, Kiner-Falefa figures to slide right into the Pirates’ second base role once he himself returns to good health.
After five straight losing seasons, the Pirates appear eager to mark the end of their rebuild with a postseason berth. Kiner-Falefa, Bryan De La Cruz, Jalen Beeks, and Josh Walker have all been added in trades in the last few days, and another deal or two might be squeezed in before the deadline. While none of these moves are exactly blockbusters, the sum total is a set of modest but needed upgrades to bolster some weaker links on the roster.
The financial element of the IKF deal shouldn’t be overlooked, as Kiner-Falefa is owed roughly $2.5MM for the rest of this season and then $7.5MM in 2025. The Jays included cash in a few of their deadline deals.
McAdoo ranked 12th in Baseball America’s most recent evaluation of the Pirates’ minor league system, and the 22-year-old has hit .315/.394/.538 with 14 home runs over 376 total PA at high-A and Double-A this season. A 13th-round pick out of San Jose State in the 2023 draft, McAdoo has done nothing but hit in his brief pro career, and has already shown a lot of polish in his approach at the plate. BA notes that McAdoo has shown elite bat speed and exit velocities to back up his impressive bottom-line numbers.
Defensively, McAdoo has played mostly third base in the minors, but with a good chunk of time at first base, second base, and in both corner outfield spots. BA hasn’t been wowed by his defense and feels the corner outfield might ultimately be his defensive home, though for now, McAdoo looks like the kind of versatile multi-position type the Blue Jays have prioritized in recent years.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan (X link) was the first to report that IKF was headed to the Pirates, while MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote (via X) about McAdoo’s inclusion. Ronald Blum of the Associated Press reported the specifics of the cash considerations.
BDLC + IKF
Good portion of the alphabet
I dunno. I’ve seen them play. I’d say mediocre portion of the alphabet at best.
I dunno?! IDK is more like it, mediocre reply at best.
Says the baseball executive
Ross Atkins busy making his final moves as a GM
Mid trade. Pirates need another power bat
I love this trade
Wanted either him or Rengifo
This really sures up 2B
Defensively, maybe. IKF is an abysmal offensive player and the Pirates are on the hook for his bloated $7.5M salary next year
He’s a decent veteran bat. Hitting nearly .300 with some pop. Hasn’t played since end of June. (IL) Probably ready in a week.
That 116 wRC+ is abysmal? I have to hear that explanation
Ok I didn’t see this coming….
I was hoping for this when Gonzalez went down. Elite defender that hits.
Pirates busy AF
I can’t imagine what more people can ask for than IKF and De La Cruz.
They told Cherington to do something, and he did.
It’s baseball fans, so most will be happy, some disgruntled, a few pissed and a few will swear they are out forever because team didn’t make the Ohtani and Mookie Betts for McCutchen trade they told them to and in fact they never even tried!
What some don’t understand is any trade requires agreement on the players being offered or are available
It could be that there were highly rated prospects that Cherington wasn’t willing to part with.
I am happy with both of these trades personally
Totally satisfied. These make them a better team.
These 2 players will help PIT offense add some speed, defense, versatility.
I think this gives PIT maybe a 70% of being able to get a WC but it is SOO competitive. Team should be optimistic, score more runs and take some pressure off the pitching staff.
70% ? How about 11.6%
Keep it coming Ross. Bassitt can go for an overpay.
Now this trade I like!
Just when I think Cherington couldn’t possibly be any dumber, he goes and does something like this… and TOTALLY REDEEMS HIMSELF!
Of course you do… Wait to you see IKF’s career OPS…
I’ve already seen his defense and versatility. That’s enough to make a baseball man cry tears of joy.
I kind of think either you and BirdsFan are one and the same or have one helluva bromance going on.
But I digress
Suddenly you’re all over Pirates threads today, playing the role of contrarian with whomever you feel should be a target
I’d think lighting dog poop on fire and leaving it on your neighbor’s doorstep and then running away is more your style. You sure know more about that kind of thing than you do baseball
But what can I expect from a Nutting fan who passionately pleas that he knows the grand poobah reinvests every nickel he makes back into the team? Hamsters have more common sense
What’s your freaking problem? You’ve turned out to be an A-hole. Be better.
You realize that poster was being sarcastic and I was being tongue and cheek back, right? We were arguing in another thread.
I’m not even being contrarian. I don’t do that. I simply state my opinion an back them up with logic and reason.
You look pathetic in that post. I’d suggest you re-evaluate your strategy and lighten up. You don’t know what you’re talking about. You have no idea what I know and don’t know (you’d be surprised lmao).
He just needs to be better than Jared Triolo . . .
They’re basically the same player except IKF is a better hitter currently. Although Triolo has the higher upside offensively. Both are great to have on the roster since they have the ability to play just about every position well. I really like this acquisition as a Pirates fan.
As a team, the Bucs struck out 14 times in last night’s game yet still managed to score 6 runs and beat the Astros
by 4 runs
Point being, if they can still manage to get on base in some form while scoring runs, it doesn’t matter how it’s done
Cruz alone struck out 4 times yet the other 8 players found ways to pick him up
Why are you always harping on strikeouts? They happen, and they happen more than in the past because the pitchers throw harder than ever before (and relief pitching is at an all-time best).
If the Pirates can just be average offensively, which they have been over the last few weeks, they can win a lot of games. Pitching is defense is their calling card, though.
let’s see why I always harp about strikeouts
hmmm.. getting on base is the only way that you score runs. Currently this team isn’t exactly the Lumber Company at scoring runs and ranks close to the bottom in league
When batters strike out, they don’t get on base
It’s simple logic
Apparently you are under the belief that the pitching should be enough to win games along with a smidgen of runs
Let’s take Skenes as an example. He has started 13 games, has been amazingly incredible, has an era of less than 2 but only has 6 wins
An offense that doesn’t score enough runs is why he doesn’t have more wins so your argument that good pitching should be enough to win games is flawed
Players who strike out in double digits every game aren’t going to score more runs than the opponent. There’s a few times, like last night , where striking out 14 times didn’t matter but that wasn’t the norm with this team
LMAO congrats on saying a lot to say nothing. You’re so dang negative all the time. It has to be exhausting. Take a nap.
Tired was right about you being a contrarian with anyone who disagrees with your beliefs and your opinionated views are covered with arrogance
You think you know everything and that’s a disgusting trait
You aren’t disagreeing with me. You have the same opinion as me on Joe, yet you’re attempting to argue with me about nothing.
So who is the contrarian, again? It ain’t me.
You also don’t understand what contrarian means. It means you always go against the popular opinion. Which obviously isn’t true.
I think your negativity is a disgusting trait. I bet you’re tons of fun in social settings.
I’ll also repeat that you don’t understand what contrarian means. It means you go against popular opinion, which is not always the case with me (obviously).
That’s not the Webster definition of someone with contrarian behavior but I won’t argue with you because you know everything and are never wrong
you enjoy repeating yourself, must be a blast at family gatherings
And if I am so negative, please explain in your infinite reasoning why I truly believe that this team has a chance at winning the division?
I am certain your response will be filled with great enthusiasm and insight since you know me so well
LMAO 🙂
The Webster definition is the financial one. You do realize it’s a financial term meaning exactly what I said, correct?
LMAO my family loves me. I always have a good time.
You don’t believe that, you’re just saying it because you’re backed into a corner. You use all of your breath on here for ripping into the team and Front Office, you aren’t fooling anyone.
That was before trades were made that will undoubtedly give this team a better chance of winning
The Webster definition never mentioned anything about finances and having a rational discussion with you reminds me of the representatives of chemical companies I had to deal with over the cost of remediating their careless decisions that polluted waterways
Regardless of the physical evidence they would still swear they weren’t responsible
It was similar to our discussions
Oxford Dictionary definition:
contrarian
noun
a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion, especially in stock exchange dealing.
“it has become fashionable to be a stock-market contrarian”
adjective
opposing or rejecting popular opinion; going against current practice.
“the comment came more from a contrarian disposition than moral conviction”
Webster Dictionary:
contrarian
noun
con·trar·i·an kən-ˈtrer-ē-ən kän-
: a person who takes a contrary position or attitude
specifically : an investor who buys shares of stock when most others are selling and sells when others are buying
🙂
Probably a big RFK Jr. fan I see. He’s a legend in the environmental sector. A great conservationist. You should have asked him for help in your arguments since it’s not a strength of yours.
webster definition
a person who takes a contrary position or attitude
opposes, antagonistic, contrary
antagonist behavior fits you perfectly
you have a nice day now, go find a small animal to berate with your antagonist behavior
Congrats on copy and pasting the definition I replied with. Glad you can admit you’re wrong.
A contrarian isn’t necessarily antagonistic. As Miriam-Webster and Oxford define, it’s going against the popular opinion, which I don’t always do. Therefore, I don’t meet the definition requirements. Sorry about that.
Why would I do that with a small animal? No animosity here. I’d rather be buddies with my pup. You shouldn’t berate small animals, plus they most likely won’t understand your antagonistic behavior. Very “serial killer” vibes for you to tell me to berate and antagonize small animals. Don’t let your anger get the best of you.
how rewarding it was to watch Connor Joe’s losing effort against left handed pitching not to mention his dropped fly ball playing at first base in last night’s game
Rewarding because you said how good he is at the plate and in the field
otherwise
blah blah blah blah
How dumb do you feel harping on every game like it’s the end all be all?
You made an excuse when he had a great game two days ago, and then ran on here to “brag” about his bad game last night. Are you even a Pirates fan? Do you realize how pathetic you look?
I would like to say that I enjoyed our banter but thst wouldn’t be fair so it’s become my personal preference that you aren’t worthy of my attention
Good. You’re lowering my IQ every time I’m forced to correct you.
Go cheer for someone other than the Pirates, or leave the positive Pirates fans alone. Nobody needs your constant level of negativity and complaining.
Did Nutting lose his mind? The Pirates are buying!!
He’s Nutting all over this trade deadline!
Hopefully they won’t be Nutting while still sucking.
Nuttings going for the ultimate climax, the World Series!
Spending money would never make bob climax. He’s probably crapping himself
Ikf mega contract for Nutting
I need to see some Braves action
Pirates are all in before Skenes is pitching in LA.
Hey watch out insinuating the Dodgers buy players…some people on here throw hissy fits when you do, or don’t pretend to look the other way on Ohtanis gambling addiction
I think he meant shoring up the defense before he starts against the Dodgers in LA next weekend
Skenes has said that he prefers small cities rather than big ones because of the friendliness of smaller ones
I don’t think that includes LA
We might have seen the only Braves moves unless Alex hurries up
Okay I really like this move
Rengifo to yanks?
Why are the BlueJays trading IKF? He is one of the good decisions that Atkins made and they have him for one more year don’t they?
I wonder if the Rogers Board of Directors mandated a budget reducing trade deadline intitiative for the Jays?
because hes a utility player who is having his best season ever and has his most value right now and the Jays have tons of players just like him including Luperfido who will be joining them
He is expendable with the recent Astros deal and their own internal options. Might as well capitalize as I don’t believe IKF has suddenly gone from a six-year 81 OPS+ player to a 115 OPS+ player.
There’s definitely smoke and mirrors to his offense this season but trying to ride that train for a playoff push isn’t necessarily a bad gamble. I like McAdoo, all he does is hit, but the biggest problem with the Bucs offense has been that there’s practically no production at all from the 5-9 spots in the batting order. Getting IKF helps that issue immensely simply by eliminating the need to roster Alika Williams and Jared Triolo.
Triolo is too versatile as a defender to be eliminated
Dip under the luxury tax
Because he is having a career year and he is HIGHLY likely to regress to his mean which is a career OPS+ of 84.
CBT maybe? Maybe they couldn’t line up on a Chad Green trade and this would help clear a few more dollars towards that CBT mark and while IKF has been good, Jimenez has looked good and will be out of options next year. Probably means they also like Clement enough to keep him around at least another year.
I love falafel!
Next, Bucs trade for Joe Garbanzo.
Is Jose Lima still around?
Jays get another 29th ranked player in McAdoo. They just seem to be picking all the 29th ranked prospects from other teams.
29th preseason. He’ll be climbing high, probably into the Jays top 10 when they get reranked.
Top 15 pirates prospect. 29 way too low.
He’s WAY better than that. He will make post-season top 100 lists
Won’t be making the by far most accurate top 100. Mine.
When you talked about not liking the idea of dealing prospects, Dream, did you mean this? McAdoo is one of the few guys hitting on the farm and they trade him for a utility player?
One of the few examples of drafting a good under radar player *13th round. This pushes the limits. Hate to tell you but you have to trust pirates scouting. He shows red flags of regression against better pitching. Doesn’t project for elite power. He’s a corners guy. He’s not untradable. If he was part of a packing for say a Rooker I would love it. It’s like the archer trade. Don’t mind the prospects just not for the mlb player. In this market it’s a D grade. Overpay but you are desperate and need help so you do it. A passing grade that you aren’t happy with. Still just a prospect. Most of them fail to be anything special.
More disappointed in not getting Canha. He went for Nutting.
Angels didn’t trade Pillar. Free agent in 2 months. Says he’s retiring. How do you not get anything for him?
you changed your name, Tired ?
What’s the 1404051815 mean? That how much you made off of reverse mortgages?
I like this move. Not a Rooker level splash by any means, but definitely a good bat for Pirates lineup.
Pirates got better today for sure.
Scott, I know a couple Legion kids who, if they were added, could have made the Pirates better today. I mean, look at some of the batting averages here and sure, they got better
But do these guys move the needle at all?
Collectively yes they move the needle. Individually, not really. Every move they made slightly raised the floor of the offense and gave better matchup options. This team needed consistency more than anything and as a whole set of moves they are better equipped to win on a daily basis than they were yesterday.
They only needed to get a little bit better on offense to be a wildcard team. With a rotation of Skenes, Keller, and Jones, they are a nightmare opponent in the wildcard round and beyond.
So yes, it moves the needle for me.
He’s a pretty solid player.
Paul Skenes Return. Please please please
I trashed BC earlier for not adding bats. Maybe he was waiting for other teams to blink.
Wow,
Ben is capable of a good move every now and then? He will be a great fit, very crucial now with Gonzalez out. Obviously I hope they didn’t give up someone too good for him.
I genuinely cannot figure out what the Pirates are doing. C’mon man, are they selling or buying, and why does it seem like they’re making moves that don’t move the needle now or in the future?
you can’t predict what might happen year to year because anything can happen
injuries primarily
did the Brewers think Yelich’s back was going to be a problem before the season started?
It’s ok, k-b, they can’t figure it out either. They’re just throwing things at the wall and crying poor
Huh? IKF has already been a 3 WAR player this season and we just lost our 2nd baseman for a long period of time, and we have him for next season too. De La Cruz enters the team tied for the lead in home runs and he’s under control for 3 more seasons. That sounds like it moves the needle both now and in the future. And as the cherry on top, they didn’t give up a single top 15 prospect.
Another great one by Atkins. Mcadoo is an awesome return for IKF. I’ll admit I hated that signing this past offseason, but it really paid off well.
I’m rooting for McAdoo to be a good player for Jays. Definitely biggest loss for Pirates hitting poor system.
3 WAR player this year
Good for the pirates. Trying to make the playoffs. It may not be enough but it’s what fans hope for. They are to be commended after all these years of futility. Other teams fiddle while their opportunities vanish.
Why has Green not been traded! Now you are trading IKF but you dont want to trade Green because you are “trying to compete” next year!? IKF is 3rd best jay!
Yep you have to trade Green. Just give the next Chad Green 10 million this offseason if contending is their hope for next year.
As a Pirate fan I like both moves so far and can’t wait to hear trade with Houston! I’m guessing Perez
Perez went to SD
It was reported Houston first
Have glove, will travel.
Wow! Tyler Zuber? And now BDLC is on the move, too? What a deadline! Holy moly!
Like, how do I fill out my fantasy baseball lineups with all these blockbusters happening?!
20 minutes left for them to add Robert Jr and call it a day.
Doesn’t appear he is being moved
The Skenes effect is real. I thought they might make marginal moves to bolster for next year, but it’s all in.
My best friend is a Pirates fan so it’s been fun texting him at work today since he can’t look himself. He is starting to think I’m pulling leg though because it is pretty surprising!
Let’s be real, for the Pirates yes this is progress, but for any other team pretty average deadline. Though getting IKF could have helped tons of teams.
I was thinking that too. All in for them is much different than other teams. But since best friend really into them I know how different this is than most years in context.
Hyperbole much?
this is perfect for the pirates. im happy with this deadline
go pirates
Mcadoo was the pirates 29th ranked prospect. Does that make him the jays 5th ranked prospect now lol?
It’s a Sad day when IKF gets traded for a sack of potatoes.
You might have gotten the steal of the day and don’t even realize it! Might be just outside the top 100 next season!
He’s absolutely bludgeoning the ball so far, safe to say he’ll be much higher than 29th. Sucks to lose him but was still a few seasons away and just drafted.
I was going to say, for the numbers he’s putting up, how in the world are 28 guys ahead of him on a list?
But I’m sure the people who demanded the Pirates do something, anything, won’t immediately jump down their throats should McAdoo turn into a good player.
Because to them, prospects are for nerds.
Top 15 Pirates. Probably cracks Jays top 10 or gets close. Been producing and climbing system fast. Good be fools gold but looking good so far.
Now the Jays are in a conundrum. They’re planning to contend in 2025 and now they will need to acquire a 3B in the offseason. Barger is not the guy. Not now anyway. That means the Jays will look to pay for a 3B or trade for one.
IKF is a solid player that was overpaid by the Jays at the time of the signing. He played up to the contract. The return is a guy who’s hitting very well in the minors.
Jays needed to get under the CBT and ikf was the easiest guy to trade
Jays wanted, not needed, to get under the CBT.
Crazy that Pirates are ADDING at the deadline. Haven’t seen that since 2014 or 2015.
They added in 2018 and it didn’t go well lmao.
Gave up Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and Shane Baz for Chris Archer.
After 2019 went off the rails they fired everyone and went full rebuild. At least the rebuild is obviously going well.
by the way
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 equals 5 years
Four full years. 2020 was a 60 game season and the entire minor league season was canceled. Four full seasons is what I said. This is year 5 for Cherington, but it’s only his 4th season with minor league play and a full MLB season.
Good pickup for the Pirates. Hayes has been pretty mediocre at the plate, not that he’s going to be benched but this gives the Pirates some flexibility.
Fitting that there be a Kiner in Pittsburgh.
I take back my positive thoughts on the trade. Charles McAdoo is WAY too much of a return for him.
But he’s not as good as Connor Joe, right?
I…ahem, I mean Joe…is a solid player.
In all seriousness, I love the addition of IKF, but the price was a little much if the Pirates take on the entire contract as well.
When you have 6 teams selling to 24 prices are going to be high! I’m very critical of this organization but I think they made the necessary moves.
Oh, I agree. I’m okay with the overpay, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an overpay.
You can see why Cherington added Yorke and Cook. I feel like he knew he was going to trade McAdoo so he wanted to replace the loss of offense in the system.
As a one-for-one swap I’m cool with it. McAdoo was a recent 13th round pick. Getting an established MLB player for that level of investment is a win, even if McAdoo has a successful big league career and makes it sting a bit 7-10 years down the road.
Overpay …McAdoo is the real deal….borderline top 100 player by next year. IKF is a career 84 OPS+ guy who is having a career year. Yankees were trying to give him away last year with no success.
McAfoo placed 29th on Pipeline and outside the Pirates Top 40 on fangraphs. This is a salary dump.
He’s way better than that. Having a monster season between A+ and AA. He would have been in the Pirates top 15 prospects for next season. Might make the Blue Jays top 10.
@Buctober 2
He must be having this monster season after the midseason update. It’s a s-a-l-a-r-y d-u-m-p.
Tell me you know nothing about the prospect you just landed in Toronto
@Mike Adamson
Tell me you know more about the evaluators at Fangraphs and Pipeline.
Pipeline hasn’t updated their top 30 list. Mayo said they were going to have him in the top 15 after the season.
You should probably Google his stats so you don’t look so silly. He’ll probably be in the Jays top 10 prospects this offseason.
@Buctober 2
A 7yr old blind girl could make it into the Jays top 10. They have one of the weakest farm systems in baseball.
I don’t disagree that Toronto wanted to offload salary, but McAdoo was probably about as good as they were going to get – a guy whose ceiling might be a platoon-type with a slightly above average bat, but who probably projects as depth piece until he runs out of options.
His ceiling is higher than that. What you described is his most likely outcome, but that’s different than his ceiling.
The way he’s his at AA this year indicates he has the ceiling of a regular position player until it’s proven otherwise. Would be unfair to categorize him as anything else after the season he’s had (with great underlying metrics and batted ball profile).
@PiratesPundit51
I agree with your assessment about his ceiling. Another way of saying it would be high end org filler, AAAA guy, and more. It’s a player that every team has and every team can afford to lose. Dumping IKF’s 10+M salary for the remainder of this year and all of next provides the Jays with payroll flexibility to make additions in persuit of upgrading the 26 man and resetting the luxury tax.
Ralph Kiner’s cousin!
here is a name I haven’t seen in rumors. Reserving judgement for the full deal info, but in general I don’t dislike the pickup. Doesn’t make the pirates a contender but should improve the team.
I think we didn’t see his name pop up because he’s been hurt. He’s in the middle of a rehab assignment in AAA right now, but he’s about ready to return.
He’s a very good pickup because he’s signed through next season. He’s extremely good at every position defensively so he can fill in anywhere.
Bingo this guy has played every position and even mopped up once or twice. He plays SS, 3b, and 2b great and can go in the grass and be great too
And better catcher than Henry Davis.
Josh Van Meter was a better catcher than Henry Davis
Nah, Hank was solid defensively this year. It appears that’s all he worked on in the offseason so it was at the expense of his offense.
He is absolutely destroying the ball in Indy, though. Probably deserves another shot soon.
I am so so on this trade.I think that IKF will be helpful but hope that the Jays pick up half his salary next year.Williams will be sent down and IKF will start at second base.
I think that McAdoo will be a real loss in three years though as he is one of the few position player middle level prospects that they have.
I’m pleasantly surprised the jays got a guy like this and I believe he could be a middle of the order bat in the future for my jays aswell. As a Bucks fan you have to be excited they are actually buying and going for it for a change. If you are a Bucs fan I get liking this prospect and thinking he would be something but Bucs fans always complain the team does nothing so if your now complaining they went for it I’m confused.
Bad move on the Pirates part. Charles Mcadoo could have been the future and probably should have been a part of this playoff run.
Agreed. I was all for trading depth prospects from middle infield or pitching and for guys like Rooker or Bleday. But you traded your only hitter at the farm level this year for a utility guy?
I also cringed at the Patrick Reilly for outfielder Billy Cook today. Reilly looked strong all season and could have been a fourth or fifth starter for the Pirates in a few years. Cook will most likely be AAA fodder turned minor league free agent at some point.
Reilly isn’t a starting pitcher unless he really improves his command and control. He’s destined to be a reliever.
I really like Cook and he was blocked in Baltimore. I think he could be the steal of the deadline and start in the outfield next season.
I know other articles write about his control issues, but if you watch him pitch, when he get two balls, he seems to lose a bit of confidence and either tries to paint the corners without avail or lands it straight down the plate. With time and repetition, he can overcome these.
Ehhh maybe, but it’s a lot to overcome for a starting pitcher. Not saying he can’t do it, but typically walks increase as you move up to higher levels and face better competition.
I hope he works out as a starting pitcher, but the odds say he probably ends up a reliever. Has the stuff to be a back end guy, though.
McAdoo had good offensive numbers, but after watching him this season in Altoona, he looks like a guy with a Mason Martin-type trajectory. He has 118 ABs in AA, and when you look at those numbers (particularly the past week or so), the shine comes off a little.
The only “bad” part about this is how few upper level guys the Pirates have with hit tools, but they just added two guys who are at least on par or better than McAdoo, both with better gloves.
IDFK about IKF 🙁
As always, the poster “Jimmer” is misguided in his quest to malign every Jays move. He constantly shat on AA. even though we were within a heartbeat of the WS. Now he gets the occasional “like” for dropping verb-turds on the current regime, which is admittedly awful. Mister J Tee will be bit#hing from now ’til eternity… or at least until his mommy kicks him out of the basement.
Giving the Pirates credit. They made some moves to try to improve down the stretch instead of selling off again.
Their fans should appreciate an effort at least.
I hates the IKF deal as a jays fan at the time but they got a legit prospect who has done nothing but hit in the minors. He could be a middle of the order bat sonnet rather then later I’m very happy with this
Oh wow, what a thrilling blockbuster move—it’s not like they could’ve traded for someone actually playing in the majors right now or anything.