The Pittsburgh Pirates traded outfielder Starling Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday – in the first major move made by new general manager Ben Cherington. In return for the Pirates highest-paid player, Arizona sent two high-level prospects. The 31-year old Marte was under contract for $11.5 million this season, and had a club option for 2021. The Pirates will pay $1.5 million of Marte’s salary this season.
In the trade, the Pirates received pitcher Brennan Malone, who was the Diamondbacks top draft pick last year, and shortstop Liover Peguero – along with $250,000 in international pool money.
The 19-year old Peguero was considered Arizona’s fifth-best prospect who batted .326 with 11 steals across two minor league levels last season.
Meanwhile, the National League Central Division appears to be getting even stronger. The Cincinnati Reds continued a busy off-season with another significant free agent signing when the gave outfielder Nick Castellanos a four-year $64 million deal. The deal does allow Castellanos to opt out and become a free agent again after both of the first two years of the contract. The Reds have committed $164 million to new players this offseason.
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