Pittsburgh Pirates & Texas Rangers Complete Trade

The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired utility player Mark Mathias from the Texas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates moved pitcher Max Kranick to the 60-day injured list.

We have acquired INF/OF Mark Mathias from the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later.

To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Max Kranick has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 8, 2023

Mathias played 30 games in the big leagues last year with the Milwaukee Brewers and Rangers, hitting .247/.319/.506 with six home runs, 20 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 91 plate appearances.

Although he has only played in 46 major league games in two seasons, Mathias will have the opportunity to compete for a reserve role with the rebuilding Pirates. He has shown some pop and an ability to draw walks, but his track record suggests that his hot run at the plate with the Rangers in 2022 is unlikely to continue.

The Rangers announced today that the club has traded INF Mark Mathias to Pittsburgh in exchange for a player to be named later.

— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) March 8, 2023

Over his two-year career in the majors, the 28-year-old holds a .256/.307/.462 triple-slash line, with six home runs, 24 RBIs, four stolen bases and 15 runs scored across 46 games.

The Pirates' acquisition of Mathias allows them to shed potential bench players, ensuring that their younger players in reserve are better off playing regularly in the minors.

This move could also potentially mean that either Ji Hwan Bae or Rodolfo Castro, whoever loses the competition for the second base job, will be sent down to the minors at the end of spring training. Photo Credit:  Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports