The Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday announced they have agreed on a trade that sends center fielder Starling Marte to Arizona for a pair of prospects. In addition, the Pirates will send to cash to the Diamondbacks and get back an extra $250,000 in international signing bonus money.
The Pirates will receive a pair of 19-year-olds in right-hander Brennan Malone, a first-round pick (33rd overall) in the 2019 draft, and shortstop Liover Peguero.
Marte batted .295 with 25 stolen bases and set career highs in homers (23), RBIs (82) and runs scored (97) in 132 games last season.
Marte, 31, is a former All-Star (2016) and two-time Gold Glove winner (2015-16) who completed his eighth season with the Pirates in 2019.
He is a .287 career hitter with 108 homers, 420 RBIs and 239 stolen bases in 953 games.
Marte expressed gratitude for his Pittsburgh tenure on his Twitter account.
“I will be eternally grateful for the support that the Pittsburgh community has given me since I arrived at the club,” Marte wrote. “I want to thank the fans for these memorable years. Thanks to the Pirates’ organization for giving me the opportunity, and to my teammates thanks for the support.”
In November, the Pirates picked up Marte’s $11.5 million option for the 2020 season. He has a $12.5 million club option for 2021 that includes a $1 million buyout.
Peguero, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the Diamondbacks’ system by Baseball America, batted .326 with five homers, 38 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 60 games across two minor league stops in 2019.
Malone was 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven appearances (three starts) with Class-A Hillsboro and the rookie-level Diamondbacks last season, his first as a pro. Baseball America ranked him Arizona’s No. 10 prospect.
