The MLB trade deadline may have come and gone, but waiver wire trades are still an option and the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets have struck a deal.
According to ESPN.com and CBSSports.com, the Mets sent John Buck and Marlon Byrd to the Pirates in exchange for infielder Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later.
The move comes one day after the Mets discovered star pitcher Matt Harvey would be out for the season and potentially for next season with the possibility of needing Tommy John surgery.
The move makes sense for both sides.
For the Mets, both Buck and Byrd will be free agents next season and with the Mets moving forward at the catcher position with Travis d'Arnaud, Buck has become expendable. In 2013, Buck has had one of his best offensive seasons with 15 homers and 60 RBI, but he does sport a dreadful .215 average.
Not to mention, New York will be looking to add some serious beef to their outfield after this season and while Byrd has been excellent for the Mets this season with 21 homers, 71 RBI and a .285 average, he is 35 and this career season he's having may be a flash in the pan.
For the Pirates, this is a great move with limited options on the table at this point in the season. Pittsburgh desperately needs some help on the offensive side as it's ranked No. 25 in the MLB in runs scored.
There's no doubt that the Pirates need more offense as they continue to make a run at October just .5 games behind NL Central leader, the St. Louis Cardinals. Going into Tuesday, the Pirates also own a comfortable lead in the Wild Card.
Recently, the Pirates took a big hit to their lineup after Starlin Marte was forced to the DL with a hand injury. The addition of Byrd and Buck should help pad that issue until he returns, although neither will be anywhere near the threat that Marte has been on the basepaths with 35 swipes this season.
Byrd will start in the outfield while Buck will add some depth behind starting catcher, Russell Martin.
After a quiet trade deadline for the Pirates, this squad looks to be serious players for the rest of the season and in October as well. No more are the days when the Pirates will sit still and let things go down the drain.
Now all that's left is for the Pirates to take care of business on the field.
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