Grading Ben Cherington and the Pittsburgh Pirates front office at the season’s midway point
By Bill Felber
Acquired or traded
The Pirates were relatively active players in the trade market over the course of the offseason. Cherington acquired seven players by trade, purchase or waiver claim who have seen time with the major league roster this season, and he did so at a loss of five members of the 2022 team.
The problem is that as a group those dozen personnel moves have not been especially helpful to the Pirates’ cause.
The Pirates got outfielder Connor Joe on the cheap from Colorado (he cost only a minor leaguer) and for a time it looked like a genius move. Through 20 games Joe was hitting in the .370s, and was a major reason why the Pirates held first place in the division as late as May 10.
But as the Pirates’ record receded, Joe’s offense dried up. He finishes the first half at just .237 and looking like the Rockies knew all along what they were doing in dumping him for a prospect. His WAA now sits at -0.8.
When Oneil Cruz suffered his season-ending injury, Mark Mathias became the default middle infield option. Picked up from Texas in March for a minor leaguer, Mathias never showed enough offense to hold down a regular spot, batting .231 and losing his job to Ji Hwan Bae and Tucupita Marcano. With a -0.4 WAA, he was designated for assignment last week.
Two of the departures have been noteworthy. Infielder Kevin Newman was traded to Cincinnati in November for Dauri Moreta. While Moreta has been a moderately useful addition to Pittsburgh’s staff, Newman has been a drag on the Reds’ youth movement. Pitcher Bryse Wilson was sold to Milwaukee in January, and Wilson has been a useful addition to the Brewers’ bullpen.