Pittsburgh Pirates News: Starter Marco Gonzales Acquired in Trade

Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners
Oakland Athletics v Seattle Mariners | Stephen Brashear/GettyImages

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made their first significant move of the offseason. The move reported by insider Jeff Passan, the Pittsburgh Pirates address the glaring need in their starting rotation. According to Passan the team is trading for left-handed veteran Marco Gonzales from the Atlanta Braves. The deal, as unveiled by Passan, involves cash going to the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Braves set to receive a player named later in exchange.

As the Pittsburgh Pirates zero in on upgrading their starting rotation, Gonzales, entering the final year of a four-year contract, emerges as their first addition. Set to earn $12 million this season, the Braves have committed to lightening the financial load for Pittsburgh. The Bucs will also have a club-option for Gonzales in 2025. If the team picks it up then they will owe him $15 million for 2025.

Gonzales faced a quieter 2023 season due to forearm surgery, a hurdle that contributed to the hush surrounding his performance. However, the veteran's career stats are solid albeit not spectacular. With an ERA of 4.14 and an impressive 665 strikeouts over 893 innings, Gonzales brings a wealth of experience to the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching rotation. He has been bascially a solid pitcher his whole career.

Last year he was only able to make 10 starts because he needed to have forearm surgery. He was having an issue with a nerve and his his forearm needed cleaned out. Hopefully, that is not something the Pirates will need to be concerned about going forward. His ERA was just over 5 in 10 games, but obviously, there was more to that story.

Marco Gonzales was on the radar as a trade candidate and one that made sense for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

However, no one really knew what to expect after Gonzales was dealt to the Atlanta Braves just a few nights ago. Gonzales was part of a multiplayer deal and it was reported soon after that the Braves would not be keeping Gonzales. So again, it made sense that the Bucs could possibly be in on the lefty.

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