The Pittsburgh Pirates sent Nate McLouth to Atlanta in exchange for three prospects, according to a statement released by the Braves.
It's not surprising to see the Braves acquire some outfield help; none of their outfielders has an OPS above .700 and they're still well within striking distance in the NL East. Nate McLouth was an All-Star in 2008 and despite an oblique injury, he was off to a good start in 2009, hitting .256/.349/.470 with nine home runs for the Pirates. In addition to his offense, he won a Gold Glove last year playing center field in spacious PNC Park.
For the Pirates, this is a bit more complicated. Everyone knows their new front office is rebuilding the club, but Nate McLouth was signed affordably through 2011 and the Pirates aren't picking up either of the Braves' best prospects, Tommy Hanson, who was called up to Atlanta Tuesday, and Jason Heyward in the deal.
Pirates' GM Neal Huntington comments:
"This may be the toughest decision we have made in my time with the organization. Nate is a quality player and person but, as we have said several times, tough decisions will need to be made as we build and sustain a championship-caliber organization. Nate has worked as hard as any player to become a starting major league Player, proving wrong anyone who may have doubted him. When we signed Nate to a long-term contract, we did so with the intent on having him remain part of our core of homegrown talent. But the quality and quantity of talent we are receiving in this trade moves us closer to our goal of building that sustainable championship-caliber club and compelled us to move a very good player and an outstanding young man."
I'm naturally predisposed to be excited by these sorts of trades--I like prospects, and I don't get as attached to established players as most fans do. I'm fine with the idea of trading Nate McLouth, it makes perfect sense in terms of the Bucs' overall plan, and they should be listening to offers on other veterans too. I'm just not sure about the return. I'm intrigued, but I'm not blown away. I think the best way to explain this deal is to say that Nate McLouth probably isn't as good as most of us think he is. The Pirates, like a lot of people around baseball, have probably come to view Nate McLouth as defensively challenged and better suited to a corner, where his bat isn't anything special.
What is a 20-homer center fielder with a decent glove and good speed worth? Is it more than Hernandez, Locke, and Morton? Did Huntington sell high here, or is he shipping away a perennial All-Star? These are the real questions Pirate fans need to be asking tonight.
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