The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired Toronto Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, sending Charles McAdoo back in the deal, according to Mark Feinsand. The Pirates have officially announced the deal.
Kiner-Falefa is batting .292/.338/.420 with seven homers this year for Toronto, in year one of a two-year, $15 million deal. He’s played second, third, and shortstop this year, showing good defense all over the infield, with plus range. He excels at pitch recognition at the plate, with a low 13.3% whiff rate, leading to a 13.2% strikeout rate.
This has been a career-year at the plate for the 29-year old super utility player. His .331 wOBA and 116 wRC+ are well above his career average of .295 and 85, respectively. The career numbers are below-average, but the 2024 numbers would make him a top-four hitter in the Pirates lineup.
Charles McAdoo has been the best hitter in the Pirates’ minor league system this year. Drafted in the 13th round out of San Jose State last year, all he’s done in pro ball is hit. McAdoo was batting .336/.415/.561 with High-A Greensboro, before a promotion to Altoona. At the Double-A level, McAdoo was hitting .269/.347/.490 with five homers in 118 plate appearances.
The Pirates had been trying McAdoo at third base this year, where his defense looked passable, showing off a strong arm and quick reactions. He has also played right field, which might be a more realistic long-term position for him. His bat could play at the corner spot, assuming the offense he’s shown so far is real.
I had McAdoo ranked as the number nine prospect in the Pirates’ system in my July update. That ranking was based on believing that his bat was real, and profiling him as an average starter who could arrive in the majors in 2026, moving into the lineup in 2027. I also had him as my early pick for my Minor League Player of the Year award over at Baseball America.
It’s difficult at this point to say whether one of these teams might be selling high. Is McAdoo’s first full pro season for real from the 13th round and a smaller college? Is the offensive breakout from Kiner-Falefa something that can be sustained through the end of the 2025 season? The Pirates traded a potentially good prospect here, but also got back a potentially good hitter to upgrade their present-day lineup.
