How Pirates addressed their needs at Deadline

This story was excerpted from Alex Stumpf’s Pirates Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

HOUSTON -- In the first four years of Derek Shelton’s tenure as Pirates manager, the Trade Deadline usually meant more players were going out than coming in, as Pittsburgh focused on its rebuild rather than making a playoff push.

This year, though? The Bucs swung several notable trades with the goal to get over the hump and into postseason play.

“I think it’s a different one for us,” Shelton said Tuesday after the 6 p.m. ET Deadline had passed. “It’s the first one where we’ve seen it switch a little bit.”

To recap the final days before the Deadline, let’s look at the needs the Pirates addressed and the new players who are coming into the clubhouse.

The need: Outfield

With the exception of Bryan Reynolds (.835 OPS), the Pirates' outfield has underproduced this year. Jack Suwinski (.588 OPS) was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, giving him a chance to regroup outside of the pressure of the Majors. Michael A. Taylor has swung a hot bat of late (.993 OPS in July), but he has a .583 OPS this season. Joshua Palacios and Connor Joe could be a fine platoon, but another outfielder was needed to boost a unit that entered Tuesday with a combined .652 OPS, the second-lowest in the National League.

The acquisition: Bryan De La Cruz

De La Cruz brings pop (18 home runs in 105 games for the Marlins this year) with solid batted-ball peripherals (11% barrel rate, 89.7 mph average exit velocity). He can play around the outfield, but given his strong arm (+2 arm runs, per Baseball Savant), right field might be a good spot for him.

Quotable: “He has real physical ability, big power, solid defender in the corners. He’s someone that even going back to when he was acquired by the Marlins from Houston, we had had our eyes on. We’ve got some personal relationships, people that know him. He was a target. He was someone that we felt like it was a good time to get a new start from Miami in Pittsburgh.” -- general manager Ben Cherington

The need: Deepen the lineup

De La Cruz checks this box, too, but the Pirates certainly need more offense than just one hitter can provide -- especially with Nick Gonzales expected to miss at least several weeks after he went on the 10-day IL with a left groin injury on Sunday.

The acquisition: UTIL Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Kiner-Falefa (acquired from Blue Jays) is working his way back from a left knee sprain, but he started a rehab assignment on Saturday and could return soon. Kiner-Falefa, who won a Gold Glove with the Rangers at third base in 2020, is still providing solid defense (+4 Outs Above Average), and he’s enjoying his best offensive campaign this year (.292 average, .758 OPS in 82 games). That translates to 3.1 bWAR, not to mention the extra value he brings being able to play across the diamond. Kiner-Falefa has played second, third and shortstop, all three outfield spots and even catcher in the Majors.

Quotable: “This is a guy who is a premium defender at multiple spots on the field. He’s been a good offensive producer; certainly this year he’s been a really good offensive producer. Exceptional reputation as a teammate, winning player, can play all over the field. This is a player we think can help us the rest of the way this year and certainly next year also.” -- Cherington

The need: Left-handed reliever

The Pirates have been without Ryan Borucki (60-day IL, left triceps inflammation) since he went on the IL on April 7, and he had his rehab assignment paused this week. Without a traditional southpaw to use against left-handed hitters (something Aroldis Chapman is overqualified to do on the regular), the Pirates have had to get creative to try to get lefties out.

The acquisitions: Jalen Beeks and Josh Walker

Walker (acquired from Mets) is an optionable reliever, and his acquisition screams more regular baseball trade than Deadline deal. He gets good extension on his delivery, making his four-seamer, which averages 94.2 mph, have a perceived velocity of 95.8 mph. Beeks (acquired from Rockies) is an experienced veteran who has held lefty hitters to a .182 batting average this season.

Quotable: “He’s pitched a lot of meaningful innings and knows how to get people out. It’s a good addition for us.” -- Shelton on Beeks

The need: Position player depth

This need wasn’t as pressing, but the Pirates have plenty of pitching depth and not a ton of Major League-ready position players. Cherington has expressed a desire to trade some arms for more bats, and he did that.

The acquisitions: INF/OF Nick Yorke and INF/OF Billy Cook

Yorke was the Red Sox’s No. 6 prospect and their first-round pick in the 2020 Draft. He hit .310 with an .898 OPS in 38 games with Triple-A Worcester this season. Cook was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk in the Orioles' system on April 25, and he hit 11 homers with an .857 OPS in 70 games.

Quotable: “He can play second base, he can play in the corners, which is important for us. And he's continued to get better, which is the main thing that we were looking for in an offensive player." -- Shelton on Yorke