Starling Marte thanks fans and Pirates in farewell post

Starling Marte, who spent 13 years in the Pirates organization, took to social media Monday to say goodbye to Pittsburgh and Pirates fans, after he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The outfielder thanked the city and fans for their support and expressed gratitude for playing for the Pirates, which he called a great organization.

“I will be eternally grateful for the support that the Pittsburgh community has given me since I arrived at the club in 2007. I want to thank the Pirates fans for these memorable years playing for you. Thanks to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization for giving me the opportunity, and to my teammates thanks for the support they always gave me.

“Today I have to take on new challenges in other latitudes. But know that I keep the best memories and the gratification of having played for this great organization,” Marte posted on Instagram on several photos of him playing and interacting with fans.

View this post on Instagram

Thank you. I will be eternally grateful for the support that the Pittsburgh community has given me since I arrived at the club in 2007. I want to thank the Pirates fans for these memorable years playing for you. Thanks to the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization for giving me the opportunity, and to my teammates thanks for the support they always gave me. Today I have to take on new challenges in other latitudes. But know that I keep the best memories and the gratification of having played for this great organization.

A post shared by Starling Marte (@marte06) on Jan 27, 2020 at 1:26pm PST

Several players, including Richard Rodríguez, José Osuna, Gregory Polanco, Luis Escobar, and A.J. Burnett, responded to the post and wished him well.

With Marte headed to Diamondbacks, the Pirates are getting two 19-year-old prospects, right-hander Brennan Malone and shortstop Liover Peguero, along with $250,000 of international bonus money.

Marte signed with the Pirates in 2007 and rose through their farm system. He made a memorable debut for the major league team on July 26, 2012, hitting a home run on the first pitch of the game from Astros left-hander and future Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

In eight seasons with the Pirates, Marte batted .287/.341/.503 with 108 home runs and 239 stolen bases in 953 games. He won Gold Gloves in 2015 and ’16 and was selected to the All-Star Game in ’16.

Last year he won the Roberto Clemente Award, emblematic of the team’s MVP, in voting by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.