The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired a minor league third baseman Francisco Loreto from the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday in exchange for right-handed reliever Chase Shugart.
Shugart, who was designated for assignment Friday to make room on the roster for the signing of slugger Ryan O’Hearn, was 4-3 with a 3.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 45 innings over 35 appearances last season.
Loreto is a 6-foot, 178-pound left-handed hitter with pull-side power who also can play catcher and second base. The 18-year-old Venezuelan batted .237/.332/.396 with 10 doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs in 47 games in the Florida Complex League last year.
