The Pirates Trade Arquimedes Caminero

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced a deal with the Seattle Mariners, sending relief pitcher Arquimedes Caminero for a player to be named later and a conditional player to be named later, with Robert Murray of Today’s Knuckleball reporting the conditional player to be named later.

Caminero was originally acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 4, 2015, as the Pirates purchased him from the Miami Marlins. Last season, Caminero posted a 3.62 ERA and 3.80 FIP in 74.2 innings. This season, with higher expectations, Caminero has posted a 3.51 ERA, but a 4.74 FIP. His strikeout rate of 17.1 percent is a career low, and down from the 23 percent he posted last season. His walk rate, 11.8 percent, is also up from last season when Caminero posted a 9.1 percent walk rate. His control has been a problem all season long, as he hit two Arizona Diamondbacks in the head in a game on May 24th.

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Caminero was then placed on the disabled list, and since returning on June 11th, Caminero has posted a 2.28 ERA. With the addition of Antonio Bastardo, the Pirates may have felt the Caminero is expendable. This move creates an open spot on the roster for a player. AJ Schugel was optioned on July 29th, and since it has not been ten days, Schugel is not able to be recalled. The move could allow a return of right-handed starter Chad Kuhl, left hander Steven Brault, or even switch hitting first baseman Josh Bell.

***Update (3:05 pm)***

The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to select the contract of right-handed reliever Curtis Partch according to Adam Berry of MLB.com. Patch appeared in one game this season for the Pirates, coming on June 19th against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Patch tossed zero complete innings, facing three batters, and throwing 14 pitches. All three reached, one via the walk and the others via a hit, and all three of those runners came around to score. In Triple-A Indianapolis this year, the 29 year-old Partch has posted a 2.05 ERA in 33 games and 48.1 innings.