Pittsburgh Pirates Make A Minor Trade With The New York Yankees

The Pittsburgh Pirates swung a deal with the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon

During his time as Pirate general manager, one thing Neal Huntington has been very good at is fleecing Brain Cashman and the New York Yankees in trades. The Pittsburgh Pirates hope that Huntington did this again on Monday afternoon.

On Monday afternoon the Pirates acquired right-handed pitcher Johnny Barbato from the New York Yankees. The Pirates acquired him in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Barbato was added to the Pirate 40-man roster and then optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Last season Barbato made his Major League debut. He pitched 13 innings in 13 games out of the Yankee bullpen. In these 13 innings pitched he walked 5 batters, struck out 15, and allowed a pair of home runs. His 7.62 ERA was ugly, but his 3.74 xFIP was very encouraging. He also owned a 45.7 percent ground ball rate at the Major League level.

In 48 1/3 innings pitched at Triple-A last season Johnny Barbato had a 2.61 ERA and a 3.44 FIP. He averaged 9.12 K/9, 4.28 BB/9, and just 0.56 HR/9. His control is something he will look to work on at Indianapolis.

The 24-year old Barbato is a former 6th round draft pick of the San Diego Padres. Barbato owns a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and has sink to it. He also throws a curveball that can be a plus pitch and give him the pitch duo needed to be a back of the bullpen arm down the road.

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At Triple-A, the Pittsburgh Pirates will use Barbato as a multiple-inning reliever out of the bullpen. He adds to the team’s bullpen depth and could see time in Pittsburgh at some point this season. Hopefully this trade will be yet another fleecing of the Yankees by Neal Huntington.