The Padres have struck a deal to acquire infielder Jose Pirela from the Yankees, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports on Twitter. New York will add minor league righty Ronald Herrera in return.
Pirela had been a factor in the New York second base picture, but he struggled in limited MLB time this year. The soon-to-be 26-year-old was much better in Triple-A, though, slashing a robust .325/.390/.433 in 259 plate appearances. He’s played all over the field in the minor, but has primarily featured as a second baseman in recent years.
While Pirela played shortstop early on in his career, he has not spent much time there as he’s moved up in the system. That makes it difficult to peg him as an option at short for San Diego, though the team has utilized far less obvious candidates there in the not-so-distant past (including Will Middlebrooks and Jedd Gyorko). Pirela might well serve as an affordable and versatile bench piece, however.
Herrera made it to the Double-A level last year at just 20 years of age. The Venezuelan native came to San Diego as the player to be named later in the trade that sent Kyle Blanks to the A’s. He worked 145 2/3 innings this year, split between High-A and Double-A, with a 4.08 ERA and 6.4 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9. Herrera is known as a polished but undersized hurler who could eventually find a place in a big league rotation.
Wait, I thought Pirela was a legit prospect? Am I mixing him up with someone? Seems like a total steal for the Padres, as Herrera is a non-prospect.
Maybe you’re confusing him with Jose Peraza?
Probably
He is not a prospect at all. He doesn’t play D and is a average hitter on his best of days… Yankees just cleared a 40 man spot.
Herrera is on the up. Wait until the end of the 2016 season and see where he ranks in the Yankees’ system. Great move for the Yankees.
Nah, Yankee fans were excited about his SSS last year and tabbed him a prospect when he wasn’t one because he hit .333/.360/.542/.902 in the majors last year.
Reggie Jackson called Jose Pirela the Yankees’ best hitter and some people took that more than what it should have been.
no just must have read a lot of yankees fanboys who hyped him and RR
I’d describe them as fairly equivalent prospects, although Pirela will have more value to the Padres in 2016 than Herrera to the Yankees. He has his skills. Looks like he can lefties, provide some position versatility in the infield. Decent runner. Herrera will probably end up as an up-and-down bullpen arm for the Yankees, who are looking to clear Pirela off the 40 man roster.
The best part of this deal is going on Twitter and watching the reactions of Yankees fans when the Yankees official accounts tweets stuff like this out. It’s gold, pure gold. Pirela is a AAAA type of guy, but wish him the best in SD.
And ‘AAAA’ is being generous.
More AAAA depth for the Padres I guess? At least they didn’t give up much to get him.
With Gyorko, Middlebrooks, and Pirela all on one team, the Padres are looking like favorites to win the AAAA title this year.
Meh…
As a Yankees fan, this makes me irrationally happy. Pirela was awful and I hated him.
Hes a AAAA but still probably a better option at shortstop than Alexi Amarista
Yup, and that just shows you how bad Amarista was. If this means means he’s gone, then Preller is starting the offseason out on the right foot.
Bye bye Amarista.
Seems more like a minors move than anything
Cashman had a second cup of espresso this morning?