Jon Niese is gone. Hopefully, the Pirates can get Bastardo back to where he was before he bolted for the big apple last winter. But Jon Niese is gone. That’s the important thing. Bastardo did a solid job out of the Pirates bullpen last season but has fallen on hard times in Queens. Hopefully, Ray Serage can work with him, and Bastardo can once again be an asset in the Pirates bullpen. The fact that the Pirates rid themselves on Jon Niese is the important thing. So, unless Bastardo is just god awful out of the ‘pen, I don’t see why this trade wouldn’t be a positive thing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I have seen many fans on twitter angry about this trade because it signifies that the Pirates made a mistake in dealing the great Neil Walker. So what? It was a bad deal. We get it. It happened in December. Walker is not Joe Morgan. He is not Roberto Alomar. He is not an all-time great, and, guess what? He’s been having the worst season of his career from June 1st. But none of that matters. Why? He played high school baseball at Pine-Richland, that’s why.
Trade Grade: B
Next: Bad Trade with Toronto?