'First domino': After Carlos Santana trade, Pirates enter trade deadline with trepidation

The Pittsburgh Pirates had the day off Thursday when Carlos Santana was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, so they didn’t get to say proper goodbyes to the popular veteran first baseman.

It will be more of a “see you later” for Santana, given that the Pirates will visit their NL Central-leading rival next Thursday for a four-game series.

“That’s part of baseball.: We knew there was going to be some movement towards the deadline. We just didn’t know who,” Pirates outfielder/first baseman Connor Joe said. “Obviously, it’s going to be a good opportunity for him and his family. As for us as a team, we’re going to miss his bat. We’re going to miss his presence on the field. He’s a great defender. We’ll see him in a week, so that’ll be fun.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he was “heavily involved” in recruiting the 37-year-old Santana, who signed a one-year, $6.725 million contract as a free agent in November. The Pirates were hoping Santana would provide an upgrade to their defense at first base, a bat to boost their lineup and veteran leadership for their young Latin players.

Santana batted .235/.321/.412 and led the Pirates in doubles (25) and RBIs (53) in 94 games.

He was coming off a six-game surge on the West Coast where he had a .304/.385/.826 slash line with three doubles, three homers and eight RBIs, including a game-winning homer in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres.

“What he meant to this team is, I think he provided leadership on the field and off the field,” Shelton said. “Obviously, he played as well defensively at first base as just about anybody in baseball until now and was having really productive at-bats, with (12) homers and (53) RBIs and really was a stabilizing presence in the middle of our lineup, which is really important when you have young players.”

At 10 games out of wild-card contention and 11 1/2 games back in the NL Central, the Pirates entered the weekend before Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline with some trepidation that there could be a flurry of trades.

Santana and 43-year-old left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, who is scheduled to start Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, were the likeliest trade candidates. There also are reports that multiple teams are interested in acquiring their All-Star pitchers — right-handed starter Mitch Keller and closer David Bednar — as well as high-leverage reliever Colin Holderman.

Pirates players are aware that Santana could be the first of multiple moves made by general manager Ben Cherington, who has indicated that he is willing to listen to offers on almost anyone on the roster.

“We definitely saw that and thought it was the first domino,” said Holderman, who was acquired in July 2022 from the New York Mets in exchange for designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach. “We don’t want anyone to go. Everyone’s a good teammate. We have nothing but great characters in here. But if it’s to better someone’s career and it’s to better the Pirates with the deal, I’m all for it. I’d like to keep my friends here and to keep going, but we’ll see how it goes.”

Where Holderman appeared confident that he will stay put, Bednar was trying to tune out trade talk. The Mars alum loves playing for his hometown team, especially with the Pirates celebrating their Yinzerpalooza weekend with a Bednar bobblehead giveaway Saturday night that plays his walk-out song, “Renegade,” by Styx.

“It’s, obviously, tough to ignore, but I don’t pay any attention to it at all and focus on getting guys out,” Bednar said. “I want to win here. I want to win in Pittsburgh. But, obviously, with the business side of it you only have so much control. All of that stuff is just noise.

“I think it’s just the trust thing in Ben to make the right decisions for this organization going forward. It’s the business part of it, so we have trust in Ben to make the right decisions to put us in the best spot to win.”

The Pirates replaced Santana by starting Ji-Man Choi at first base and recalling outfielder Josh Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis, where he batted .360 with four home runs and seven RBIs in six games. Shelton said Joe would split playing time with Choi at first base and noted that a pair of rookies, third baseman Jared Triolo and catcher Endy Rodriguez, also could serve as depth pieces at the position.

The Pirates know that the return for Santana — shortstop Jhonny Severino — is years away from helping the major league team, but Shelton emphasized that their roster has several players who were acquired as teenagers through trades, most notably Rodriguez and shortstops Oneil Cruz and Liover Peguero.

The scouting report on the 6-foot-3 Severino, who was playing in the Arizona Complex League, is that he has a big frame built for power, a strong arm and is athletic enough to remain at shortstop. The 18-year-old Dominican was MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 prospect in the 2022 international free agent class, signing for $1.23 million.

“From all indications of talking to our people and from talking to a couple scouts I know, he’s a kid that has filled into his body and has the ability to impact the baseball,” Shelton said. “The hitting coach in me, that makes me smile.”