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UPDATE 3:42 PM EST: It's official. The Pirates have announced the deal (via Twitter).
UPDATE 3:24 PM EST: The Pirates will also receive minor league reliever Kyle Kaminista from the Marlins, reports Peter Gammons of MLB.com.
Original Story: The Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins have agreed to a trade that has sent first baseman Gaby Sanchez to Miami in exchange for outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and a competitive balance draft pick, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Source:
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2012#Marlins close to sending Gaby Sanchez to#Pirates for OF Gorkys Hernandez and a competitive-balance pick.
Official: Sanchez deal to
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2012#Pirates is done.
As Jim Callis of Baseball America notes, the competitive balance pick headed to Miami is currently ranked No. 33 overall and carries a $1.525 million value. This is the second trade the Marlins have made to acquire a draft pick, showing their focus on acquiring young and cheap players. While Hernandez isn't a top Pirates prospect, he is known for his defensive value and specifically arm.
The 28-year-old Sanchez is having a career-worst season at the plate, batting just .202/.250/.306 in 196 plate appearances over 55 games. He struggled so mightily the Marlins were forced to send Sanchez to the minor leagues. We'll see if he can turn it around for the Pirates.