The Tigers have effectively reversed their trade acquisitions from last July in one day, reportedly agreeing to send closer Joakim Soria to the Pirates hours after sending David Price to the Blue Jays.
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Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the Tigers will receive prospect infielder-outfielder JaCoby Jones in return.
Soria anchored the back-end of the Tigers bullpen posting a 3-1 record with 23 saves in 26 opportunities while holding a 2.85 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 41 innings of work. 288 with 23 home runs at low-A West Virginia in 2014, then posted a. 253 average with 10 home runs at high-A Bradenton earlier this season, before moving to Double-A for three games before the trade.
Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington told ESPN the move is intended to “lengthen and deepen our bullpen”.
Soria will team with left-hander Tony Watson in a righty-lefty setup bridge to closer Mark Melancon, who is working on a streak of 30 consecutive save conversions. The Pirates will have to make a move to create a roster spot when Soria joins the team, which opened a four-game series in Cincinnati on Thursday. “The game seems to have gone in that trend”.
The Pirates lead the National League wild card standings are trying to catch the Cardinals in the NL Central.
The Pirates are missing Jordy Mercer, on the 15-day DL with a sprained left knee, and Josh Harrison, who is recovering from surgery on his left thumb.
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The Tigers acquired Soria, a two-time All-Star closer for the Royals, last season from the Texas Rangers for minor league pitchers Corey Knebel and Jake Thompson. “It pretty much came together today”.
