The Rangers will acquire prospect Sherten Apostel from the Pirates, as first reported by John Dreker of PiratesProspects.com (via Twitter) and as has since been announced. Apostel was chosen as the player to be named later in the deadline-day swap that sent reliever Keone Kela to the Pirates.
Apostel, 19, has been in the Bucs system for the past three years. The Curacaoan third baseman has put up strong offensive numbers in 2017 and 2018. This year, he’s slashing .259/.406/.460 with seven long balls along with a 42:32 K/BB rate over 175 plate appearances in the Rookie-level Appalachian League.
Though he has many hurdles to clear before he’ll be seen as a likely major-league asset, Apostel has certainly carved out a place for himself on the prospect map. He entered the current season ranked 16th among the pre-MLB players on the Pittsburgh farm by Fangraphs, based upon his intriguing upside. (Truly passionate Pirates supporters will want to consider a subscription over at PiratesProspects.com, where there are loads of stories documenting the progress of Apostel and his now-former prospect brethren.)
It seems, then, that the swap will infuse the Texas farm system with some quality new assets. Lefty Taylor Hearn was already acquired as the headliner of the package and could be a factor in the MLB mix as soon as 2019, if he develops as hoped. Apostel will no doubt be viewed as an increasingly important part of the Rangers’ future if he can continue to progress, though his outlook perhaps hinges most upon the question whether he will be able to handle third base defensively at full physical maturity. (Fangraphs just inserted him at 13th on its current ranking of Rangers prospects, which features Hearn in the #6 slot.)
It always figured to require a reasonably steep package of talent to get Kela, given his strong work this year and remaining seasons of arbitration eligibility. For the Pirates, Kela’s initial performance has at least helped validate the acquisition cost. The still-youthful reliever has allowed only one earned run in six frames for the Bucs, striking out six batters and issuing one walk. He’ll remain under club control through 2020.
Seems like an even trade for both sides
Kela is an excellent pitcher with a few years of control… I’d say Rangers got the short end of the stick, big time.
Agreed.
if only the rangers had that inside info, could be building this 3-4 year project around a solid mlb reliever right now. darn
Really man?
You’re telling me trading a great RP that you’ve got control over for a few years for a couple guys that look to have a poor shot at even making the majors is a solid deal?
Hell, let’s trade LeClerc too.
While I get your point, Kela isn’t exactly a lights out guy. He’s a good guy to have, for sure. But a nearly mid-3’s career ERA isn’t screaming top end reliever.
Hearn is more than a poor shot to make the majors
He’s also only controllable through 2020 and even that year he’s going to be making some good $$. The Rangers window is probably opening 2021 ish which’s gives these guys 2 more years to develop plus another ST. They could keep him, but they’d have to pay him.
Ehhh…I wouldn’t say the Rangers got completely robbed, because A LOT hinges on the future success of the players they received..
However, even with that being said, and especially considering the rising value of controllable bullpen pieces, the Rangers SHOULD HAVE done better…
We can’t really evaluate the trade as it stands now, but the players they acquired are REALLY going to have to just about reach their respective ceilings to make it a win for the Rangers..Which, is NOT very likely whatsoever..Although, Hearn could come out and supreme some people, but I’m not all that high on him personally..At least not high enough where he should have been the centerpiece of a Kela return…
Well said bravesfan88. I agree.Please don’t throw any tomahawks around though.
As a Pirate fan who has known/read about both Hearn and Apostel since both entered the Pirates’ system (about two years, Hearn came with Vasquez in the Melancon deal right around when Apostel was drafted) I think its a pretty fair trade for both sides. If Hearn sticks as a starter he provides more long term value than Kela and if not the Rangers have a lefty in the bullpen that can throw mid-nineties and just use his best offspeed pitch to complement the fastball. Apostel has serious power and decent plate discipline. Probably 1st and DH type player but the bat could potentially be worth it.
It seems like JD always gets the short end
So, two months of Mark Melancon and Sherten Apostel for Felipe Vazquez and Keone Kela? Seems pretty good.
The media here still talks about the Melancon deal like it was a bad thing.
That Melancon trade was one of the best trades that gets the least attention. Lose 2 months of your closer for several years of superior ones.
The Pirates had no choice with Melancon.They were not going to give him $64 M.The Nationals were desperate for a closer,and had questions as to whether Rivero could close even though they knew that he had the tools.The Pirates saw Rivero earlier in the year,and were very impressed with his performance.
They also exacted the young player Hearn which was smart on the part of NH.
I think that for the most part NH has made good trades after some bad ones in his first few years.
The Melancon deal gets the least attention by the Pittsburg media because by acknowledging it, they would have to stray from the narrative that Huntington can’t trade.
McCutchen was a great trade too. Gerrit Cole not so much
Still can’t believe they didn’t get Whitley for Cole.
Crick has almost the same WAR as McCutchen, and that prospect is one the Giants really could use, lol
I think that the Astros were adamant not to trade Whitley.I would have liked to have received McHugh instead of Feliz,but the Pirates like those hard throwers even if they cannot find home plate.I knew that Cole would produce as long as he is healthy as he is a bona fide #1 pitcher,the first pick of the 2011 draft.
I think that the Pirates got a real good pitcher in Kela,well worth the price.
I really do hope that I can say the same thing about the Archer trade,but he needs to prove that he can be a solid # 2 to justify that very steep price.
I’ve followed Archer for several years in Tampa. His arms not the problem..his head is. He has trouble slowing down the game.
Sometimes a new team and pitching coach can correct some of those problems.Sometimes it can be maturity.He seems like a nice enough guy so hopefully he gets it together better.
Hasnt Tampa had a few pitching coaches over the years? Which one does this head case approve of? I’ve said it for years Archer is overrated but what do I know?
The arm isn’t overrated….his inability to harness it isn’t.
Rangers definitely didn’t get a good return here. Kela is really good. I was expecting a top 10ish guy at least. This is almost like the Rangers just wanted him off the team or something.
I was unpleasantly surprised with Baz being included in the Archer trade.I am pleasantly surprised here.I had heard that there were some sort of problems with Kela with the Rangers but a new broom sweeps clean.He seems to be a very good pitcher.I would have thought that they could have received more but these two prospects are both fairly good I think.This guy is a longer range prospect and they of course can be problematic.
Bucs need to get some bats over the summer. Don’t have any consistent hitters. Should trade Harrison/Marte and get one good outfielder
Harrison is on a $10M option which they will not pick up and he will become a free agent,Marte is the best all around player that they have but unfortunately will never be a superstar.They need some power from first and third base.The best teams always have two or three superstars that get them over the hump when times are tough.The Pirates have a bunch of good players but no great ones.They miss a hitter like Alvarez who with one swing of the bat can get you tied or ahead in a close game.They need a couple of 30 home run ballplayers who can also play the field but they do not have them and maybe never will get them.Such is the life of small market teams unless their farm system is chock full of hitters.
Very good post Mario. Except for one point. The Bucs do not miss Pedro. At all.
I agree totally,and did not imply that as he has no place to play in the NL.I was not quite clear enough on that,only using his power as the desirable item.
They do miss his power,though,They have not replaced it since he has left.
It came in handy in close games.
I think that they had hoped Moran and Bell could produce HR’s this year but such has not been the case.
Thank you for the complement.
A few more losses and they need to put Mercer, Harrison, Nova and Freese on waivers and see what they could get in return. Not saying to trade all of them, but I’d trade at least one of them and up to three of them. Keep one of Mercer or Freese as a veteran voice.
The Pirates need to play Newman (and soon Kramer) a good bit down the stretch to get his feet wet this year instead of learning on the job next year. Hurdle will not sit his veterans. They’ll have to be traded to get Newman the at bats he needs.
I agree with you about the veterans but I would think that the front office can override him on that.
I would have agreed with you on Freese but he has been one of their best hitters and probably should share 1st and 3 rd bases so that he starts 50% of the time.They need to get more production out of Moran and Bell.
I think that they have already shopped both Harrison and Mercer with no reasonable bites but at this point they should get what they can get,hopefully to contenders.
Nova is another story.He is capable of being a solid #4 at a reasonable cost.I am not sold on Archer.I would keep Nova this year as the last starts for both Kingham and Holmes were disasters.
As a ranger fan it sucks to lose kela because he is a good pitcher and will be very good for the pirates. But I think they could of gone more. Rangers really wanted Taylor and I could see him being a top rotation guy in 2020/2021.
the apostel sherten