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Outfielder Starling Marte has been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for two prospects.
Outfielder Starling Marte has been traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Arizona Diamondbacks, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 27, 2020
The two prospects going back to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Starling Marte trade are young and have high ceilings, sources tell ESPN, but that can be said about a lot of Arizona's farm system, which may be the deepest and best in baseball behind San Diego and Tampa Bay's.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 27, 2020
More details on the return to come.
Update: The return
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Pirates will be receiving SS Liover Peguero and RHP Brennan Malone in this deal. They will also receive $250,000 in international bonus money this year. Malone was a first round pick (33rd overall) of the Diamondbacks last year. According to Fangraphs, Malone and Peguero were the Diamondbacks’ 5th and 10th best prospects overall. Both players are 19 years old.
Peguero is a 6’1” speedy shortstop who has drawn comparisons to Jean Segura. In 22 games last season in low-A, he hit .262/.333/.357 after previously raking in rookie ball. His ETA for reaching the majors is in the 2022 range.
Malone is a 6’5” right-hander who’s fastball sits in the mid-90s. At times, he can touch 99 mph. He also throws a curveball, slider, and changeup. As of right now, he projects as a middle of the rotation starter. Fangraphs projects that he will be in the majors by 2024.
Quick thoughts
Both of these prospects are young and will most likely start the season in low-A. They are high ceiling players. Being that this is Ben Cherington’s first major trade, it seems as though he is taking a chance at the home run deal. It will take years to see whether this trade works out, but at first glance, I find this return to be at the very least interesting.
Cherington had a knack for eyeing young talent in his time in Boston. It will be interesting to see whether or not that is the case in Pittsburgh.