The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that they acquired LHP Marco Gonzales from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday evening, sending back a player to be named or cash considerations. He was recently acquired by the Braves in a five-player deal with Seattle, included mostly for the Mariners to shed payroll.
The Mariners sent him to the Braves, along with $4.5 million of his $12.25 million salary for 2024. That left $7.75 million remaining, and the Braves are including cash to the Pirates to further reduce that number.
Gonzales will be in his age 32 season in 2024, and is coming off a year where he put up a 5.22 ERA in 50 innings, before going down for the year with an anterior interosseous nerve issue, which required left forearm surgery in August. He’s projected to be ready for the 2024 season. His best years came from 2018-2020, combining for a 3.85 ERA across the three years.
The Pirates need starting help, especially with Johan Oviedo going down with Tommy John surgery. Gonzales joins Mitch Keller as the only starters in the rotation who are assured of a starting role. At the least, Gonzales will provide reliable innings at replacement value level production. The Pirates have had success three years in a row with lefties who had the same value range as Gonzales improving.
Tyler Anderson was signed in 2021, and traded to Seattle for C Carter Bins and RHP Joaquin Tejada.
Jose Quintana was signed in 2022, and traded at the deadline to St. Louis for RHP Johan Oviedo and 3B/1B Malcom Nunez.
Rich Hill was signed in 2023, and traded at the deadline with 1B Ji-Man Choi for OF Estuar Suero, LHP Jackson Wolf, and 1B Alfonso Rivas.
Gonzales has a team option in 2025 for $15 million, with no buyout cost. If the Pirates do turn him around, they’ve got a starter under control for another season, rather than continuing the trend of trading their lefty starter at the deadline.
