Rotation Piece Is Added By Pirates In Trade With Braves
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Pittsburgh Pirates just acquired Marco Gonzales and cash in a deal with the Atlanta Braves in return for a player who will be identified later.
According to sources who spoke with ESPN, the Atlanta Braves are trading left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates will acquire a player to be identified later in exchange for cash from the Braves.
— December 6, 2023, Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan)
Gonzales is a part of the Braves’ second deal in as many days after they acquired him, Evan White, and Jarred Kelenic from the Seattle Mariners.
Braves Give Pirates Gonzales in Trade
The Active Offseason of the Braves
In the trade market this offseason, Atlanta has been quite busy. They sent Aaron Bummer to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for five players, including Michael Soroka, and Kyle Wright to the Kansas City Royals. Nick Anderson was also dealt to the Royals. The Braves are obviously taking action to ensure that they are still a threat in 2024. They will definitely need to step up in 2024, and Bummer is a good addition to their bullpen. Although Kelenic’s career hasn’t been the best, the Braves are expecting a breakthrough season from him. On their bench, Evan White will be a useful platoon player.
Marco Gonzales and the Pittsburgh Pirates
The left-handed Gonzales will give the Pirates depth in their starting rotation. In 2023, Gonzales made 10 starts, had a 5.22 ERA, and 1.460 WHIP in 50 innings pitched. The Pirates currently have a rotation consisting of JT Brubaker, Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter, Johan Oviedo, and Quinn Priester. However, Gonzales should be able to compete for a spot at the back end of the rotation.
The reason Gonzales only made 10 starts in 2023 is because he was shut down in late May. After a couple of months of not fixing the problem, Gonzales underwent forearm surgery. The surgery was meant to decompress a nerve that was causing problems in his pronation and index finger. Gonzales is expected to be ready to go by spring training, though.
Gonzales has been traded twice because of his salary. This is also the reason Atlanta sent cash along with him to Pittsburgh. According to Spotrac, Gonzales is owed around $12 million for the 2024 season, and he has a club option for another $15 million in 2025. He is not necessarily a one-year rental, but he will not be making that $15 million in 2025 without a good season in 2024.
With all that said, the Pirates had one of the worst pitching staffs in the MLB last season. Adding Gonzales is not a blockbuster move by any means. However, he should give the Pirates some competitiveness in the back end of their rotation if he is healthy.
The left-handed Gonzales will give the Pirates depth in their starting rotation. In 2023, Gonzales made 10 starts, had a 5.22 ERA, and 1.460 WHIP in 50 innings pitched. The Pirates currently have a rotation consisting of JT Brubaker, Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter, Johan Oviedo, and Quinn Priester. However, Gonzales should be able to compete for a spot at the back end of the rotation.
The reason Gonzales only made 10 starts in 2023 is because he was shut down in late May. After a couple of months of not fixing the problem, Gonzales underwent forearm surgery. The surgery was meant to decompress a nerve that was causing problems in his pronation and index finger. Gonzales is expected to be ready to go by spring training, though.
Gonzales has been traded twice because of his salary. This is also the reason Atlanta sent cash along with him to Pittsburgh. According to Spotrac, Gonzales is owed around $12 million for the 2024 season, and he has a club option for another $15 million in 2025. He is not necessarily a one-year rental, but he will not be making that $15 million in 2025 without a good season in 2024.
With all that said, the Pirates had one of the worst pitching staffs in the MLB last season. Adding Gonzales is not a blockbuster move by any means. However, he should give the Pirates some competitiveness in the back end of their rotation if he is healthy.