Pirates acquire All-Star Dickerson from Rays
The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired All-Star outfielder/designated hitter Corey Dickerson in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Pirates sent right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson, minor league infielder Tristan Gray and cash considerations to the Rays as part of the deal announced Thursday. Dickerson had surprisingly been designated for assignment by Tampa Bay over the weekend after being selected as the American League's starting designated hitter in last year's All-Star Game.
The 28-year-old slashed .282/.325/.490 with a career-high 27 home runs and 62 RBIs last season, ranking second on the Rays with an .815 OPS. Dickerson's batting average slipped from .312 in the first half to .241 in the second, but he still remained a key part of the Rays' offense down the stretch.
"Corey Dickerson adds a quality power threat to our lineup as evidenced by his 60-plus extra base hits and 20-plus home runs each of the last two seasons," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "Corey is a driven player who will also add a quality presence to our clubhouse."
Last month, the Rays avoided arbitration with Dickerson by agreeing to a $5.95 million contract for 2018. He still has a year of arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent after the 2019 season.
Dickerson should slot in left field for the Pirates after he played 93 games at the position for the Rays last season. He played 55 games as the team's designated hitter.
Hudson, 30, posted a 4.38 ERA and struck out 66 batters across 61 2/3 innings in 71 games with Pittsburgh last season after joining the club on a two-year, $11 million contract that will pay him $5.5 million in 2018. The right-hander previously pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2010-16, excelling as a starter early in his time with the team before multiple elbow injuries pushed him to the bullpen.
Gray, 21, hit .269 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs for the West Virginia Black Bears of the short-season New York-Penn League in his first minor league action after being selected by the Pirates in the 13th round of last year's draft. He received playing time at both second base and shortstop.
-Field Level Media
