The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks from the Colorado Rockies, in exchange for Double-A left-hander Luis Peralta, according to Mark Feinsand.
The 31-year-old Beeks has a 4.74 ERA in 49.1 innings, with a 38:18 K/BB. As a Rockies pitcher, you would think the ERA is inflated due to the home park. Beeks has a 3.81 ERA at Coors Field this year, with a 6.00 ERA on the road. Playing in his sixth MLB season, including parts of five seasons with the Rays, Beeks has a career 4.43 ERA in 327 innings.
The fastball from Beeks sits 94.6 MPH, and has been a positive run value pitch over the last three seasons. He also throws a cutter, changeup, and a curveball that he’s added to the mix this year. The changeup stands out as his best swing and miss pitch, with a 39.3% whiff rate. His cutter is his best value pitch this year, with a .253 wOBA-against. He’s only thrown the curveball 11 times, using a curve for the first time since 2019.
The Rockies will receive minor league lefty Luis Peralta, who has put up great numbers in his first season as a reliever. Peralta had an 0.60 ERA in 30 innings with High-A Greensboro, striking out 50 and walking 15. He was moved up to Altoona at the end of June, and has a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings, with a 14:3 K/BB.
Peralta is in his age-23 season, with a fastball that can get up to 95, along with an upper-80s changeup and a mid-to-upper 70s curveball. He’s got some serious swing and miss stuff, and was a sleeper in the Pirates system who could rank inside the top 30. He’s taken a big step forward since moving to the bullpen, with improved control this year. He’s also the younger brother of big league starter Freddy Peralta.
The Pirates recently outrighted left-hander Josh Fleming off the roster, with Fleming opting for free agency. He had a 4.02 ERA in 31.1 innings for the Pirates this season, and had a 4.77 ERA in 254.2 innings during his career. The only lefty in the Pirates’ bullpen prior to the addition of Beeks was Aroldis Chapman.
Beeks is a free agent following the season, so he’s a rental for the remainder of the year. He’s making $1.675 million this year, and will be owed less than $600,000 for the remainder of the year.
UPDATE 9:52 PM: The Pirates have officially announced the trade.
