Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington made his third deal before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, adding to the bullpen depth Tuesday by acquiring left-handed reliever Josh Walker from the New York Mets.
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Walker, who was designated for assignment July 26, has elite extension and a three-pitch arsenal that features a curveball, four-seam fastball and sinker. Walker had a 5.11 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 12 1/3 innings over 10 appearances in the majors this season. He also had a 2.83 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with a .157 batting average against in 25 appearances for Triple-A Syracuse.
Walker, 29, will report to Triple-A Indianapolis.
The Pirates are sending 18-year-old lefty Nicolas Carreno to the Mets in return for Walker. Carreno is 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, 36 strikeouts, 17 walks and five hit batsmen in 21 2/3 innings over eight starts in the Dominican Summer League.
On Monday, Cherington also traded right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester to the Boston Red Sox for Triple-A second baseman/left fielder Nick Yorke, who was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis, and acquired lefty reliever Jalen Beeks from the Colorado Rockies for Double-A lefty reliever Luis Peralta.
