Around the NL East: Miami Deals Sanchez to Pittsburgh

Miami completed one last deal before this afternoon’s trade deadline, having already dealt away a number of players over the past week across multiple deals. The Marlins shipped first baseman Gaby Sanchez to the Pittsburgh Pirates and will receive outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and the competitive balance draft pick the Pirates recently were awarded for next June. The Pirates will also be receiving right-hander Kyle Kaminska in the deal.

Sanchez should instantly be an upgrade for the Pirates at first base, despite the fact that the 28 year old is having a disappointing season. He’s hitting just .202/.250/.306 in 196 plate appearances on the year and at one point was optioned back to Triple-A to work out some of his struggles. Sanchez made the NL All Star team last year and finished in the Top 5 in Rookie of the Year voting the year before.

Kaminska has thrown 53.2 innings across Double-A and Triple-A on the year, posting a 5.20 ERA.

Hernandez will reportedly join the Marlins Major League squad after coming to the organization in this deal, but has spent the bulk of this season with Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate. Hernandez had been one of the key pieces the Pirates acquired when they sent Nate McClouth to the Atlanta Braves in June 2009 and made his MLB Debut earlier this year. He received 26 plate appearances over 25 games, picking up just two hits. He’s appeared at all three outfield positions and offers a speed element that has been largely lacking from a Marlins team that has Emilio Bonifacio and Jose Reyes on their roster.

Miami will also receive Pittsburgh’s competitive balance pick which should be #33 overall in next June’s Draft. This is a new feature to the recent changes to the collective bargaining agreement.

What Miami plans to do with first base over the season’s final two months remains to be seen. Logan Morrison may have been the logical choice to take over in place of Sanchez but he is likely done for the year due to a knee injury. Carlos Lee, who the Marlins were trying to move before the deadline but were unable to find any takers, may end up getting most of the first base at bats instead of filling in for Morrison in left so that Hernandez can get some playing time in the outfield.