PITTSBURGH _ Up until this point, new Pirates general manager Ben Cherington had been mostly quiet about the Pirates' overall direction going forward. Now it seems as if the team is going into rebuilding mode under first-year manager Derek Shelton and its new leadership core, trading away one of their best players.
The Pirates dealt outfielder Starling Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday and will receive two prospects plus international pool money in exchange for the former All-Star.
The 31-year-old center fielder is under contract for $11.5 million in 2020. Marte's contract included a $12.5 million club option and a $1 million buyout option for 2021.
Marte hit 23 home runs, stole 25 bases and hit .295 in 2019. With his departure, the Pirates are now looking at a likely starting outfield group of Guillermo Heredia, Bryan Reynolds and (hopefully) Gregory Polanco. Jose Osuna, Jason Martin and Pablo Reyes will be among those who will compete for opportunities in the outfield.
Shortstop Liover Peguero and pitcher Brennan Malone _ in addition to $250,000 in international pool money _ are headed to Pittsburgh in exchange for Marte.
"We're excited about adding two young players of this caliber and the opportunity we'll have to help them continue to grow." Cherington said in a statement. "In addition, we now have a greater ability to acquire impact type talent in this year's international free agent market.
"We have a foundation of talent in Pittsburgh and in our system that we feel will be a key part of our success. We also know that we need more of it if we are going to realistically be able to compete deep into September and October."
Peguero is a 19-year-old shortstop who was the fifth-best prospect in the Diamondbacks system, according to FanGraphs. The 6 foot 1 native of the Dominican Republic had a .326/.382/.485 slash line with 11 steals and five home runs across two minor league levels last season.
Malone is a 19-year-old right-hander whom FanGraphs rates as the Diamondbacks' 10th best prospect. The Diamondbacks drafted him 33rd overall in 2019, and the power pitcher will likely be one of the top pitching prospects in the Pirates' system.
"This move signals rebuild for the Pirates," an NL West scout told the Post-Gazette via text. "If they develop these kids properly, it'll be a good move similar to the return the Pirates got for trading Andrew McCutchen. Malone has a strong arm and Peguero has a lot of talent. Anytime you get two of top 10 prospects from a team with a system like Arizona is a win. (Ben) Cherington and that group did some good today."
Speaking on his future during the final weekend of the 2019 regular season, Marte told the Post-Gazette that he hoped the Pirates would pick up his option (they did) and also that he would retire a Pirate.
"I want to finish my career here," Marte said.
But in November, when Marte's name came up in trade rumors with the New York Mets, he said he'd be open to the possibility of joining another team.
"If I had the power, I would leave at this point because the caliber of player (the Pirates) have is not that of a team ready to compete for a World Series," Marte told Deportivo's Hector Gomez.
Marte signed with the Pirates in 2007 and made his debut with the big-league club in 2012. He won two Gold Gloves in Pittsburgh (2015, 2016) and was an All-Star in 2016, when he stole 47 bases and batted .311.
