Pittsburgh Pirates: Team Send Braden Ogle To Phillies For Catching Prospect

The Pittsburgh Pirates have swung a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies that will send Braeden Ogle to the Phils for catching prospect Abrahan Gutierrez.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made their first of what hopes to be many more trades for the upcoming trade deadline by sending left-handed relief pitcher Braeden Ogle to the Philadelphia Phillies for catching prospect Abrahan Guiterrez. The news broke this morning by Jon Heyman who sent out the news on Twitter:

Ogle was the Pirates’ 4th round pick back in 2016. Given the time he was drafted, this removes a player from the equation of what prospects the Pirates will protect going into the Rule 5 draft. Ogle, who turned 24-years-old today, has pitched the entire season with the Indianapolis Indians. He’s put up a solid 3.13 ERA, 3.92 FIP, and 1.326 WHIP across 31.2 innings of work.

Ogle has struck out just over 30% of all the batters he’s faced with a 30.7% rate. He’s also gotten a ton of ground balls. His 49.3% GB% has helped him put up an outstanding .57 HR/9 rate. Plus his line drive rate sits just below 15% at 14.9%. Though Ogle has done well at getting strikeouts and limiting the long ball, he’s given up walks at a 16.8% rate.

The prospect the Pirates got back, Abrahan Gutierrez ranked as the Phils’ 32nd best prospect on FanGraphs. He was also one of the two players who the Pirates were going to acquire in the Tyler Anderson trade that fell through because of medicals.

The catching prospect adds yet another catcher to the farm system, making him the third catcher the Pirates have acquired this month (Henry Davis in the draft, Carter Bins in the Anderson trade with the Seattle Mariners). So far, Guiterrez has had an outstanding season at A-Ball. Through 219 plate appearances, the 21-year-old has put up a .288/.420/.429 slash line, .409 wOBA, and 139 wRC+.

Gutierrez hasn’t hit for much power, having just a .141 isolated slugging percentage. But his 6’2, 214-pound frame means that he could eventually tap into more power as he ages. Plus if he can get his GB% below 50% (currently at 52.8%) and line-drive rate above 20% (currently 17.6%).

He may add more power just by getting the ball in the air more. Though the right-handed batter has been great when it comes to plate discipline. He’s drawn 6 more walks than strikeouts, putting up a 16.9% BB% and 14.2% K%.

Overall, it’s a good trade for the Pirates. They add another catching prospect to a system that was once devoid of catching talent while making their 40-man roster decision easier in the off-season for the Rule 5 draft.