Pirates make their shocking move at the MLB trade deadline

The Pittsburgh Pirates began their MLB trade deadline activity by trading minor league outfielder Gilberto Celestino to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations.

Celestino, who was acquired by the Pirates last offseason from the Minnesota Twins, had a promising spring training but was eventually sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. Throughout the season, he has played all three outfield positions and performed adequately at the plate.

In his time with Indianapolis this season, Celestino hit .271 with three home runs and 25 RBIs, boasting an OPS of .704, which includes a .348 on-base percentage and a .356 slugging percentage. His wRC+ stands at 88, and he has an impressive walk rate of 10.2%.

Although the Pirates didn’t have a clear role for Celestino, the Cubs showed interest, leading to the trade for an undisclosed amount of cash. This cash could potentially be used to help absorb a player’s contract at the deadline, which might be beneficial for the team.

To replace Celestino, the Pirates signed utility man Jose Rojas to a minor league contract. The 31-year-old has played multiple defensive positions throughout his minor league career, though he has limited MLB experience.

Rojas brings a powerful bat, hitting .250 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs in Triple-A this season. His OPS is .906, including a .354 on-base percentage and a .552 slugging percentage, with a wRC+ of 129 and a walk rate of 13.9%.

The addition of Rojas is intended to bolster Triple-A depth and provide some power for Indianapolis. Although Rojas hasn’t played in the major leagues since 2022, he still has the potential to make an impact at the Triple-A level.

With the trade deadline just beginning, the Pirates might make further moves to strengthen their big league roster, while additional small-scale trades like the Celestino deal are also possible.