Pirates show 'urgency' by keeping David Bednar, Bryan Reynolds at trade deadline

As his former team finalized perhaps the biggest blockbuster deal in baseball’s trade-deadline history, David Bednar already had packed and unpacked and made himself right at home.

Three hours before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star closer moved his gear to the coveted double locker space once occupied by the most veteran member of the bullpen.

When the deadline elapsed, the San Diego Padres sent shockwaves through the major leagues by acquiring 23-year-old superstar outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell for a package of top prospects in a bold bid to chase a World Series ring.

The Pirates, despite their last-place standing in the NL Central, kept their most coveted trade chips. They were willing to make deals, just not any involving Bednar or center fielder Bryan Reynolds, a 2021 NL All-Star. Both were acquired in major offseason trades, Bednar as part of the package from San Diego for pitcher Joe Musgrove in January 2021, Reynolds in return for sending five-time All-Star and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants in January 2018.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington hoped the lack of trade activity sent a message to a frustrated fan base that was anticipating a flurry of moves. The Pirates are rebuilding but weren’t conducting a fire sale.

“We feel like the word is ‘urgency.’ We just want to be urgent about getting better all the time. Those are two guys that would be really important parts to getting better quickly,” Cherington said of Bednar and Reynolds. “We respect the heck out of them as people, as players, value what they do for the Pirates, on and off the field. I’m really glad they’re Pirates today and tonight, and we’re thrilled that we get a chance to keep building not just with those two guys, but with many others in this organization.

“At the same time, look, there’s clearly a lot of things we have to do better, a lot of areas to get better if we’re going to win at the level we need to win at. There’s a lot to do. We continue that work.”

Pirates GM Ben Cherington on the message sent to fans by keeping All-Star closer David Bednar and CF Bryan Reynolds at the trade deadline: “Urgency.” pic.twitter.com/f7hsI3UHz7

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) August 3, 2022

Cherington completed a trade Monday night by sending left-handed starter Jose Quintana and right-handed reliever Chris Stratton to the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals for right-handed pitcher Johan Oviedo and Double-A corner infielder Malcom Nunez.

Cherington finalized a minor deal at Tuesday’s deadline, sending cash considerations to the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handed reliever Jeremy Beasley.

Oviedo and Beasley were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, Nunez to Double-A Altoona.

The trades addressed the Pirates’ needs with younger options. They view the 24-year-old Oviedo as a potential starter, Beasley, 26, as a reliever who balances their sinkerball-heavy bullpen with a four-seamer that sits at 95.4 mph and Nunez, 21, as a power-hitting corner infielder.

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Oviedo worked mostly out of the Cardinals bullpen, going 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 25¹⁄₃ innings over 14 games, striking out 26 and walking seven.

He was a starter at Triple-A Memphis, going 4-2 with a 5.58 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 50 innings over 10 starts. He has a four-pitch repertoire but relies mostly on a four-seamer and slider while mixing in a curveball and changeup.

“In Oviedo’s case, he’s kind of in the category of a guy who’s still really young. We see a starter’s body, starter’s delivery, starter’s repertoire and has already touched the big leagues,” Cherington said. “We think he’s not quite a finished product, and there are some specific things we see that we think we can help him with, adjustments. He needs runway and opportunity. We’re excited to work with him.”

Nunez, ranked the Cardinals’ No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 13 by Baseball America, batted .255/.360/.463 with 11 doubles, 17 home runs and 66 RBIs in 86 games for Double-A Springfield this season. He plays third base but is viewed as a future first baseman/designated hitter.

“In Malcom’s case, he’s a little bit of something we don’t have a lot of,” Cherington said. “We feel like we have a lot of talent in the organization, but maybe corner guys with real bat-to-ball skills, the hit skill with some strength and power, he’s been really young for every level he’s been at. He’s performed. Excited to work with him, too, and see if we can help him tap into even more of that offensive potential.”

The Pirates replaced Stratton by recalling right-hander Colin Holderman, acquired from the New York Mets on July 22 for designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach.

The 6-foot-7 sinkerball thrower is viewed as a potential high-leverage reliever who can complement Bednar and Wil Crowe.

More pressing, the Pirates need to replace Quintana in the starting rotation. Promoting Miguel Yajure from Indianapolis is a possibility as Roansy Contreras is still in the process of building up after being shut down before the All-Star break.

The Pirates also have to decide whether to sever ties with underperforming veterans like first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo and utility player Josh VanMeter and how to clear room in the outfielde for rookies such as Jack Suwinski and Travis Swaggerty.

Cherington anticipated discussing which moves to make on the active 26-man roster with manager Derek Shelton after Tuesday’s game against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. Shelton was more concerned with the leadership void created by the trades of Quintana and Stratton and which players will take advantage of the opportunities.

“Both Q and Stratton are terrific pros,” Cherington said, recounting a conversation with the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations. “I was telling John Mozeliak, finishing that deal up (Monday) night, and I told him, ‘I don’t know you’ll find better pros on the scale of things.’

“I don’t know that anytime you talk to a player about a trade, it’s easy, but those guys are real pros which, on one hand, makes it easier because they’re going to be total pros about it and understand. On the other hand, makes it harder because you appreciate who they are. But, it’s part of the game. They understand that. They’ve been through it. Often, it’s the case that trades, however that first conversation feels when you first find out, often it can lead to good opportunities for everybody involved. That’s what we certainly hope in this case.”

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