Evaluating the Pirates Trade for Marco Gonzales

After a long wait, the Pirates finally have made their first significant transaction of the offseason. Marco Gonzales has been acquired from the Atlanta Braves, along with cash, for a player to be named later or cash. 

The Pirates went into the offseason with a dire need for pitching and they began to address it with this acquisition. This will not be the only pitching addition Ben Cherington makes this offseason as he has said in multiple interviews that the plan was to add at least two starters to the rotation. 

Marco Gonzales is a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher from Colorado. Spending most of his career with the Seattle Mariners, Gonzales has had a very solid career posting a 4.14 earned run average with 665 strikeouts in 893 innings pitched. Last season he had surgery on a nerve in his forearm causing him to miss the majority of the season. He will be ready to pitch when pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

Atlanta is also paying a portion of Gonzales’ salary for the 2024 season. He is owed $12 million this season and the Pirates will not be paying all of it. He also has an option for the 2025 season worth $15 million. 

The Pirates bought low on a player who is expected to rebound from his injury. They also began to rebuild their starting rotation that has a lot of question marks for next season. I believe that the Pirates won this trade, and I am expecting a few more moves to be made soon.