By Jerry DiPaola
August 6, 2018
With time running out on this season and the Pittsburgh Pirates in danger of falling out of wild-card contention, general manager Neal Huntington decided he wanted to continue tinkering with the roster.
Huntington made a deal Monday to add infield depth when he acquiredshortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed relief pitcher Matt Seelinger. The Pirates also received cash considerations in the deal, but they also must delete a player from the 25-man roster or place someone on the disabled list.
It appears to be a trade of a rental player, however. Hechavarria is not signed for the 2019 season, but the Pirates will be on the hook for 31 percent of his $5.9 million salary this year (approximately $1,829,000).
The Rays designated Hechavarria, 29, for assignment Wednesday after he hit .258 with three home runs and 26 RBIs in 61 games (57 starts) this season at shortstop. But he’s a reliable fielder who was one of MLB’s top triples hitters until this season.
He had a 94-game (319 chances) errorless streak that ended June 30 against the Houston Astros. Those were the longest such streaks in Rays history for a shortstop.Before this season, his 35 career triples since 2013 are tied for third in MLB behind Dee Gordon (40) and Charlie Blackmon (37).
He also ranks fifth in the majors in games played (734) since 2013. He was a National League Gold Glove finalist in 2014 and ‘15 when he was with Miami Marlins.
Hechavarria made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 before spending the next four years (2013-16) as the starting shortstop for the Marlins. He was traded to the Rays last year.
Seelinger, 23, is 1-3, with a 3.03 ERA for the Single-A West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League. He recorded seven saves and allowed six home runs in 31 2 ⁄3 innings.
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
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