P2Daily: Daniel Vogelbach Trade Creates Roster Flexibility

This will very likely be a very action packed couple of weeks for the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the draft over and done with, the attention turns to getting all of their picks signed and sent to the complex to get their professional careers underway.

On top of that, the trade deadline is quickly approaching, with the Pirates set to likely be sellers once again. They kicked off trade season by trading Daniel Vogelbach to the New York Mets for reliever Colin Holderman.

The righty is an intriguing prospect (still holds that status despite being 26), as he was ranked in tenth in the Mets system according to FanGraphs. Holderman has done well for the Mets this year, going 4-0 with a 2.04 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.

It’s something else that makes this a great trade for the Pirates, despite losing one of their better hitters on the roster. Not only did they strengthen their bullpen, with a player with six years of control left after this year, but they also created some added flexibility with their roster the rest of the way out.

Vogelbach was great against righties (149 wRC+), but was struggled against left-handed pitching (33 wRC+), and wasn’t really playable in the field.

That’s a lot of variables working against him to be a consistent proponent in the lineup.

Now with his roster spot opened up, it makes the Pirates a little more versatile in what they can do with their lineup. They can give a player an extra day off in the field, but really it creates an extra lineup spot to a younger player for them to evaluate what part they may play as a part of the future team.

It also clears a lefty off the roster, something the Pirates have plenty of in Pittsburgh, and in waiting in Indianapolis.

It always feels like a never-ending cycle for the Pirates — signing players just to offload them at the deadline. The Pirates are in a position now to make more of trades like this.