MLB trade deadline 2024: Pirates add De La Cruz, Kiner-Falefa to bolster lineup
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of deals before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline.
The Pirates came into the night battling for an NL wild card spot, trailing San Diego by two games for the third and final spot.
The highlight of the day was a deadline-beating move to land Miami outfielder Bryan De La Cruz for minor leaguers Jun-Seok Shim (right-handed pitcher) and Garret Forrester (infielder). De La Cruz has 18 home runs, 51 RBIs and 44 runs this season while batting .245. Shim and Forrester were Top-20 prospects in the Pirates’ farm system.
Pittsburgh also acquired a bat, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, from Toronto in exchange for minor leaguer Charles McAdoo. Kiner-Falefa, related to Pirates Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, is hitting .292 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs this season and has spent most of his time at shortstop and third base but has played around the diamond.
The moves could move the needle for the surging Buccos, who are 14-9 in July and in search of reinforcements across the lineup. Pittsburgh needed a corner outfielder like De La Cruz, and Kiner-Falefa provides infield insurance with second baseman Nick Gonzales on the injured list.
The Pirates also traded Martin Perez to San Diego in exchange for 18-year-old left-handed pitching prospect Ronaldys Jimenez. Finally, they sent minor league pitcher Patrick Reilly to Baltimore for minor league outfielder Billy Cook.
Earlier in the day, Pittsburgh added lefty reliever Josh Walker from the New York Mets in exchange for pitching prospect Nicolas Carreno.
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