The Pirates and Pink Sox introduced a commerce that can see infielder Enmanuel Valdez head to Pittsburgh in trade for right-hander Joe Vogatsky. Valdez was designated for project by Boston earlier this week.
Valdez has appeared in 125 huge league video games since making his MLB debut with the Sox throughout the 2023 season. A stable .266/.311/.453 slash in 149 plate appearances made a superb first impression for Valdez in his rookie 12 months, however he didn’t fare properly with extra enjoying time this previous 12 months, hitting solely .214/.270/.363 in 223 plate appearances.
Of the whopping 11 gamers who have been a part of Boston’s revolving door at second base in 2024, Valdez had probably the most enjoying time, with 56 begins and 65 complete appearances on the keystone. Pittsburgh’s second-base state of affairs can be removed from settled, with Nick Gonzales penciled right into a beginning function for now, and Nick Yorke and Jared Triolo additionally combating for at-bats. Valdez is the one left-handed hitter amongst these different righty choices, which might give him a gap for a platoon function.
Valdez figures to be a part of this combine, although he has a smattering of MLB expertise at third base, shortstop, and left discipline, and he has performed everywhere in the diamond within the minors. This versatility will assist Valdez’s possibilities of profitable a job out of Spring Coaching, and his means to deal with third base could be significantly helpful if Ke’Bryan Hayes continues to be bothered by again accidents. Valdez has a minor league possibility 12 months remaining, giving the Pirates the power to make use of him as minor league depth if the 26-man roster is full.
Vogatsky (who turns 23 later this month) was a Nineteenth-round decide for the Pirates in final summer season’s beginner draft, and the right-hander has but to start his professional profession. A product of James Madison College, Vogatsky labored solely as a reliever in his final two faculty years, with a lot better outcomes than his first two NCAA seasons. This function change doubtless acquired Vogatsky drafted, and it appears doubtless that he’ll stick within the bullpen going ahead.
