The Pittsburgh Pirates' trade deadline decisions last year didn't exactly set the baseball world on fire. They opted for a strategic reshuffle, moving veteran players who didn't factor into their future plans for prospects and potential. The most significant departure was closer David Bednar, who headed to the New York Yankees, while the Pirates held onto their top asset, Mitch Keller.
In exchange for Bednar, the Pirates acquired three prospects: catchers Rafael Flores Jr. and Edgleen Perez, along with outfielder Bryan Sanchez. Flores Jr. was the crown jewel of the deal, having been a top-10 prospect with the Yankees. At 25, he holds the No. 10 spot in Pittsburgh's prospect rankings... for now.
Flores Jr. was expected to be major league-ready, especially given his stature as a six-foot-three catcher with impressive power and defensive prowess. The hope was he could provide a significant upgrade behind the plate, where Joey Bart has been serviceable but not transformative.
However, Flores Jr. has struggled mightily this spring, posting a meager .083/.241/.125 over 13 games. Instead of challenging Bart for the starting role, he's slipped down the depth chart, trailing Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez.
The Pirates may be second-guessing the Bednar trade as Flores Jr. faces challenges
There were warning signs from the outset. After being promoted to Triple-A by the Yankees, Flores hit just .211/.388/.289 in a limited 10-game stint. His brief major league appearance with the Pirates last September was also rocky, with a striking out rate of 41.7%.
Flores Jr.'s strikeout issues persist this spring, with a 31% strikeout rate and a lack of power, evidenced by a .042 ISO. With the Pirates aiming to contend this offseason, some might argue they would have been better served keeping Bednar.
Despite the nail-biting moments Bednar can bring, his two-time All-Star status and consistent performance make him a valuable asset. Pairing him with Dennis Santana could have created a formidable bullpen, alongside emerging talents like Justin Lawrence and Isaac Mattson.
While Perez and Sanchez might still turn things around for Pittsburgh, Perez is under 20 and had a tough time in A-ball last year. Sanchez, at 21, isn't in the Pirates' top-30 prospects and is still working his way up from the lower minors.
As for Flores Jr., it's too soon to write him off completely, but his current trajectory isn't promising. It’s starting to look like the Yankees may have gotten the better end of the deal, snagging Bednar while the Pirates are left hoping for a turnaround.