PITTSBURGH PICKS UP BRYAN DE LA CRUZ
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from the Miami Marlins for pitcher Jun-Seok Shim and infielder Garret Forrester.
What does it give the Pittsburgh Pirates
De La Cruz is a solid addition to the Pirates outfield. He is a consistent hitter and is on pace for a career high in home runs (having already hit 18). Apart from Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh does not get a lot of production from their outfield. So De La Cruz should play nearly every day right away. He will help the Pirates push for the playoffs this season, and also comes with three more years of team control. Good move by Pittsburgh here.
What does it give the Miami Marlins
The Marlins' fire sale continues. For De La Cruz, they were able to get two young players who are still in the early stages of their development. Shim, a pitcher, was an international signing from South Korea in 2023. Forrester was drafted in the same year. He had been playing first base for low Single-A Bradenton. For the time being, this is an underwhelming return for the Marlins. However, the hope is to develop both prospects in the future.
Fantasy impact
De La Cruz's fantasy value gets a small boost, as he will no longer play home games at pitcher-friendly loanDepot Park. He should fill a similar role in the Pirates lineup, and they will need him to drive in runs. His arrival could mean fewer at-bats for the likes of Josh Palacios and Michael A. Taylor. Neither Marlins prospect acquisition has any value at this time.
