Pittsburgh Pirates Trade for Connor Joe
The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired first baseman/outfielder, and former draft pick, Connor Joe from the Colorado Rockies
Adding a right-handed hitting outfielder was a major need for the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason. Sunday evening, general manager Ben Cherington addressed this need by acquiring Connor Joe from the Colorado Rockies.
We have acquired 1B/OF Connor Joe from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor league pitcher Nick Garcia. pic.twitter.com/rCTROJlbzM
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) December 19, 2022In exchange for Joe, the Pittsburgh Pirates have traded pitching prospect Nick Garcia to the Rockies. Garcia was selected 79th overall by the Pirates in the 2020 draft. Last season, he posted a 3.66 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 9.9% walk rate, and a 23.3% strikeout rate in 113 innings pitched at the High-A level.
The right-handed hitting Joe is also a former Pirate draft pick. He was selected by the Pirates with the 39th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. Joe never reached the majors with the Pirates however, as he was traded to the Atlanta Braves in August of 2017 for Sean Rodriguez.
In his MLB career Joe has hit for a .247/.346/.385 slash line to go with a 92 wRC+ and a 94 OPS+ in 694 plate appearances with the Rockies and San Francisco Giants. Last season Joe hit for a .238/.338/.359 slash line to go with an 87 wRC+, 88 OPS+, and a walk rate of 11.8% in a career-high 467 PAs.
While Joe can play both first base and the outfield, odds are he will be used as a platoon partner with Jack Suwinski in right field. In his career Joe has hit for a .258/.347/.411 slash line with a 99 wRC+, 11.2% walk rate, and just an 18.6% strikeout rate in 242 PAs.
Joe is also a player who brings plenty of years of team control to Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old Joe is under team control through the 2027 season.
To make room for Joe on the 40-man roster the Pirates have designated reliever Nick Mears for assignment The team's 40-man roster remains full, with moves still needed to be made to make room for free agent additions Jarlin Garcia and Austin Hedges.