MILWAUKEE — As the 2020 trade deadline approaches, the Pirates made their first notable move on Friday morning, shipping outfielder Jarrod Dyson to the White Sox.
The Pirates will receive $243,300 in international bonus pool money in return. That increase in the cap is available only for the 2019-2020 season, so the Pirates will have to use it before Jan. 15, 2021.
Dyson, 36, signed a one-year contract worth $2 million with the Pirates this February. He is still owed $333,000 of his prorated $700,000 salary.
During his introduction in Bradenton, Fla., Dyson made headlines for his extremely blunt answer to why he ended up signing with the club.
“Ain’t too much out there right now,” Dyson said when asked why he chose to come to the Pirates. “You would love to explore, but at the same time, you’ve got to take what you can, take the good with the bad and roll with it. Make the most of it.”
He was expected to be their their everyday center fielder, but quickly had his playing time cut after struggling at the plate, slashing .157/.218/157 with five RBIs over 55 plate appearances.
Despite his offensive issues, Dyson still showed that he was a good defender and base runner, convincing the White Sox he would be a good depth option down the stretch, especially since rosters will stay at 28 players through the rest of the regular season and postseason.
Cole Tucker has received more reps in the outfield, particularly in center, as Dyson’s playing time decreased. Tucker has cited Dyson multiple times as a positive influence as he learned the new position.
Jason Martin has been recalled from the alternate training site and will be active for Friday night’s game against the Brewers.
This move would also open up a roster spot and potential playing time for outfielder Anthony Alford, who the Pirates claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays Thursday. Alford was considered the Blue Jays’ top prospect in 2016, according to Baseball America, and then their third best for 2018. He has lost that top prospect status since then, but general manager Ben Cherington, who also came from the Blue Jays, obviously still sees something in him, even though he was just slashing .155/.200/.254 over 75 career plate appearances before being waived.
The 2020-2021 international signing period was pushed back to January of 2021 as a way for teams to limit expenditures during the 2020 season. This signing period began on July 2, 2019, and all of the top prospects have long since been taken. However, it does give the Pirates another chance to look over who is still available.
This is likely just the first move the Pirates will complete before the Aug. 31 trade deadline. Cherington signaled to reporters last week that no one is off the table for a potential trade.
Pitchers Keone Kela and Derek Holland are on expiring deals, making them prime trade candidates. Kela was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation, and Holland is set to make his final start before the deadline Friday night.
Of the players with multiple years of team control being dangled, Richard Rodriguez, Trevor Williams and Chad Kuhl have been connected to teams, and even though they are struggling, Josh Bell and Adam Frazier are on the market as well.
