Pirates trade for Marlon Byrd and John Buck

Byrd is having a breakout year

Well, remember when we all wanted the Pirates to make a trade and I wrote my treatise on why it was not dumb to overpay? That was apparently a waste of time as today the Pirates paid a steep price for Marlon Byrd and John Buck.  It was reported earlier today that Byrd was claimed on waivers and it was speculated that it was either the Pirates or Reds that claimed him.  The Reds were stupid enough not to block him from us and we in turn claimed him.  John Buck is just a throw in to give the Mets salary relief but he will serve as a nice backup and bench bat for Russell Martin.  This is a trade that should've happened before July 31 but I'm happy it got done now.

 

 

Byrd is having a career year and hasn't skipped a step (that was my concern in July).  He's dominating baseball with a slash of .285/.330/.518 OPS .848 with 21 bombs.  How you like that for a #5 hitter?  He was a guy that I was really hoping the Pirates would get and now they have a huge upgrade in RF and on the bench.  Buck started off like a monster for the Mets but is now just hitting .215/.285/.367 OPS .652 with 15 HRs.  Most of those homers were in April though so it's misleading.  They are both upgrades for us so it's a good trade.  Buck and Tony Sanchez are probably even but Tony will be back in four days.  Felix Pie will be DFA'd.  Pie and Kelly Shoppach are the only ones hurt by this trade.

 

The one thing that makes me take pause is the price it took to get them.  Dilson Herrera is going to the Mets and he is a strong prospect.  He was only in West Virginia but played in the Futures Game.  He has a lot going for him but he's extremely raw.  He's a big "if" type of player but if everything does click for Dilson, NH is going to be haunted by this trade.

 

Overall I think both sides are happy.  The Mets got a good prospect for Byrd and Buck and the Pirates got a much needed offensive boost in right field.  That was the one hole they needed to fill.  Now with Jones starting to hit again and with Walker and Cutch coming on, this could be the missing link in a division winning Pittsburgh Pirates team with playoff success.  I and most of Pittsburgh are happy.