The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired outfielder Connor Joe from Colorado yesterday in exchange for pitching prospect Nick Garcia.
The 30-year-old Joe hit .238 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs in 111 games with the Rockies. Joe split time between left field, right field, first base and designated hitter for Colorado last season.
Joe joins an outfield group that includes All-Star centerfielder Bryan Reynolds, who has asked for a trade, Jack Suwinski, Tucupita Marcano and Miguel Andújar. The move reunites Joe with Pittsburgh. The Pirates selected Joe in the 2014 draft before sending him to Atlanta in 2017.
The trade follows Pittsburgh’s signing of veteran catcher Austin Hedges to a $5 million, one-year contract on Saturday, according to multiple reports. The 30-year-old Hedges played for Cleveland last season, batting .163 with seven homers and 30 RBI in 105 games. Hedges, who has the reputation of being a top defensive catcher, helped the Guardians win the AL Central.