The Guardians have traded lefty Konnor Pilkington to the D-backs in exchange for cash, per announcements from both teams. Arizona had an open spot on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding 40-man move was not needed. Pilkington has been optioned to Triple-A Reno.
Pilkington, 25, has had a rough start to his season in Triple-A, where he’s been clobbered for 13 runs on 19 hits and 11 walks with 14 strikeouts in 14 innings of work. His 2022 season in Triple-A featured similar struggles, evidenced by a 5.88 ERA in 56 2/3 frames, but despite his unsightly showing in Columbus, Pilkington had a solid MLB debut last year.
In 58 innings for the Guardians, he turned in a 3.88 ERA through 11 starts and four relief appearances. He’s added another two scoreless innings here in 2023. Pilkington’s career 19.5% strikeout rate is about three percentage points below the league average, and his 12.4% walk rate is about four percentage points higher than average. He’s more than held lefties in check in his big league career, yielding just a .238/.333/.286 batting line. Righties have been better but haven’t completely torched him, turning in a .234/.335/.372 output.
Pilkington has a pair of minor league option years remaining — this year included — and has had some success in the big leagues in a rotation role already. He’ll give the D-backs some optionable depth both this year and next, which of extra importance with Zach Davies on the injured list, Madison Bumgarner already having been released (hence the open 40-man spot) and young arms like Ryne Nelson, Drey Jameson and Tommy Henry all struggling to various extents to begin the season.
Taking Pfaadt’s spot in Reno??
Look at all the Guardians last transactions….they’re all for Cash. They once had Norm Cash, but it is sad they can never get another player on return, just a cheap organization.
It’s Konnor Pilkington bro. He was DFA’d why would anyone trade a player in their organization for someone who was on waivers? Use your head.
I didn’t even know Karl Pilkington played for the Indians.
This is a weird thing to be upset about. Teams trade fringe roster guys for cash all the time.
What’s funny is if Pilkington were in the rotation over Allen or Bibee.. everyone would cry service time manipulation because they are cheap.
Pilkington was getting destroyed in AAA and they brought up their high-caliber prospects. No reason to complain over a fringe guy…
JR refused to part with any more of his cash.
Who is this guy I’ve never heard of him and then he’s some top prospect then he’s in the rotation now he’s a young guy who gets traded?
He was the sole return for CLE when they dealt Cesar Hernandez to CWS in 2021. Looked like a steal last year when he posted pretty good numbers for the Guardians, but he completely disintegrated at both levels this year. Not like they had anything invested in him. All they were gonna get was cash, and God knows the FO is always looking for cash.
I’m thrilled, I tell ya…..thrilled.
Such a exciting trade for us lol
It’s not a deal that knocks your socks off, but they did just get a 25 year old pre-Arb LHSP that has already made it to MLB (as a pitcher with CLE; which is generally a pretty competitive place for pitchers) for only cash. Plus he still has some options.
That’s almost the same circumstances that Kyle Nelson came to AZ under (getting squeezed off of the CLE 40-man due to them having more interesting options to add to the 40-man).
Not saying Konnor Pilkington=Kyle Nelson, but that’s worked out pretty well for the DBacks with very little risk assumed.
I really liked Nelson coming up through the minors and I was hoping they’d keep him. His first taste of the majors didn’t go well and they’ve had a 40-man roster crunch for a few years now, but I’m glad he’s doing well over there.
I’m also still a believer in Carlos Vargas so I hope he puts it together there too.
I guess another way to look at it is, can he be any worse than Dallas Keuchel or Madison Bumgarner?
Should have DFA’d Plesac instead.
He’ll be out of the rotation once civale or McKenzie makes it back.
Can’t afford to keep him that long.