The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded for 28-year-old infielder/outfielder Mark Mathias from the Texas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later.
Mathias has 127 plate appearances in the majors in parts of two seasons. In that time, he’s hit for a .256/.307/.462 line with six home runs. Last year in Triple-A, between the Brewers and Rangers systems, he hit for a .322/.422/.518 line with a 24% strikeout rate, and a 13% walk rate.
The right-handed hitter was recently designated for assignment by the Rangers, making this a bit more than a waiver claim, as the Pirates cut the line to get him with the PTBNL.
This move boosts the depth off the bench, with Mathias having one option remaining and 1.153 years of service time to date. He’s played first, second, third, and all three outfield spots. His potential role is similar to the potential role from Ji-Hwan Bae: a super utility bat off the bench.
Bae is off to a slow start this spring, going 1-for-14 in six games. That slow start gives us a reminder that his success in the majors has been brief. At the very least, adding Mathias boosts the depth behind Bae. I think it’s likely that Mathias begins the year in Pittsburgh and Bae starts the year getting daily at-bats in Indianapolis.
To make room on the 40-man roster, Max Kranick was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
