Pirates Receive Gaby Sanchez For Gorkys Hernandez and Competitive Balance Pick

Gaby Sanchez the right handed first baseman formerly of the Marlins was another solid pickup for the Pirates today at the deadline. Sanchez is having a down year to this point so far with a split of .202/.350/.306 in just 55 games and 183 at bats but hey its still better then what we gave up in Gorkys Hernandez.

I think that Sanchez is also going to get better as the season continues because he has not been this bad in the past and at just 28 years old he isn't out of his prime. Sanchez was an all-star last year for the National League for whatever that's worth, but he did finished 2011 with .266/.352/.427 line and 19 home-runs, he only has three home-runs so far this year. Sanchez also has only a .234 BABIP so far which also means that he is most likely due to do better then he has been at the plate. I don't expect Sanchez to start at first but he might platoon some and just some of the time with Jones if Hurdle feels that the match up is right. Sanchez will be more of an improvement in the late game pinch-hitter category, an area the Pirates have not been so successful in.

Some people look at this trade and don't take it quite as seriously as they should because the only other name involved besides Gaby Sanchez is Gorkys Hernandez who I think we all can agree is not very good but the what the Marlins are really getting is the #33 pick in next years draft. This #33 pick is the pick that the Pirates received in this year's competitive balance lottery put on by major league baseball. Most likely the #33 pick in next years draft is going to turn out to be more successful then Gorkys Hernandez, so the Pirates are giving up more then just a good defensive outfielder. I am not in love with this trade but I do think the Pirates won only because Sanchez in not a free agent until 2016, so the Pirates are going to have at least a good bench bat for some years to come.