Huntington active leading up to deadline
The Pirates didn’t generate much national buzz at Major League Baseball’s non-waiving trading deadline.
However, general manager Neal Huntington was quite active leading up to Friday afternoon’s deadline. He made five deals in an eight-day span, including four on the final two days before the deadline for making trades without needing to pass players through waivers.
The action culminated Friday when the Pirates acquired left-handed starting pitcher J.A. Happ from the Seattle Mariners for Class AAA Indianapolis right-handed starter Adrian Sampson and also got first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Indianapolis outfielder Jose Tabata in a swap of right-handed hitters.
On Thursday, the Pirates acquired right-handed relievers Joakim Soria from the Detroit Tigers for Class AA Altoona shortstop Jacoby Jones and Joe Blanton from the Kansas City Royals in a cash transaction.
The first trade came July 23 when the Pirates picked up third baseman Aramis Ramirez from the Milwaukee Brewers for Indianapolis right-handed Yhonathan Barrios.
That gives the Pirates five new faces as they attempt to not only hold on to their lead in the National League wild card race but also chase down the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central standings.
“We feel we have been able to backfill with established major league players,” Huntington said. “While we gave up some players of interest, we felt the return was worthwhile and we’ve positioned this club to continue to be a postseason club and, if we get there, have a chance to go deep.”
Entering Saturday, the Pirates were four games up on the San Francisco for the first wild card and 5陆 games behind the Cardinals.
Huntington wasn’t expecting to be busy on deadline day but things changed Thursday night when 38-year-old right-hander A.J. Burnett had his third consecutive poor start since the All-Star break and told the training staff afterward that his elbow was hurting.
Suddenly, the Pirates’ starting rotation didn’t look so invincible, especially when Burnett told reporters after the game “that’s all I got, I’m 38 years old.”
So, Burnett, who has allowed at least five runs in each of those three starts, went on the disabled list with elbow inflammation and Huntington went back to work. There is no timetable for Burnett’s return.
That led to the Pirates acquiring Happ, subbing J.A. — he pronounces it Jay, though — for A.J. in the rotation. Happ will make his Pirates’ debut Tuesday night when he faces the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
“It directly influenced our desire to add a starter,” Huntington said of Burnett’s injury. “As we explored the trade market, we felt J.A. Happ was our best move.”
Happ, 32, was 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.408 ERA in 21 games, including 20 starts, for the Mariners this season. He pitched 108 2/3 innings and allowed 121 hits while striking out 82 and walking 32.
Through his first 11 starts, Happ was 3-1 with a 3.31 ERA, but has gone 1-5 with a 6.65 ERA in his last 10 games, nine of which have been starts.
Happ is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.
“He’s a guy we’ve liked for a number of years and actually tried to trade for him a handful of times in the past,” Huntington said. “He’s struggled lately but we feel he can come in and help us.”
Morse will give manager Clint Hurdle the option to start him in place of first baseman Pedro Alvarez against left-handed pitchers.
The Dodgers acquired Morse from the Miami Marlins on Thursday as part of a three-team, 13-player trade that also included the Atlanta Braves then immediately designated him for assignment.
Morse, 33, helped the San Francisco Giants win the World Series last season but hit just .213 with four home runs and a .588 OPS in 53 games for the Marlins after signing a two-year, $16-million contract as a free agent with his hometown team in the offseason.
The Dodgers also put $4 million in the trade to offset the difference in Morse’s $8.5-million salary and Tabata’s $4.5-million salary next season.
“It gives us the potential to add a better bat to our bench,” Huntington said of the swap of right-handed hitters. “Hopefully we’ll be able to jumpstart (Morse) and have him do some good things for us.”