Story by
Pirates' .657 OPS infielder from Red Sox trade in Triple-A after Konnor Griffin move
- Story by
- Pirates' .657 OPS infielder from Red Sox trade in Triple-A after Konnor Griffin move
Pirates' .657 OPS infielder from Red Sox trade in Triple-A after Konnor Griffin move originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Pittsburgh Pirates know that Konnor Griffin is the shortstop of the future.
Advertisement
That's a major reason why they signed him to a long-term extension for $140 million . Because of Griffin's emergence on the Major League roster, there was not enough room on the 40-man roster for everyone.
After promoting Griffin, the NL Central club designated second/first baseman Emmanuel Valdez for assignment. According to Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors , the 27-year-old, acquired from the Boston Red Sox during the offseason ahead of the 2025 season, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A.
"Valdez is healthy but no longer had much of a path to playing time on the Pittsburgh infield. Horwitz has established himself as the primary first baseman. They acquired Brandon Lowe to play second and have Griffin up at shortstop," Franco wrote Thursday. "Third base is still a question mark, especially with Jared Triolo shelved by a knee injury, but Valdez had dropped below Nick Yorke and Nick Gonzales on the infield depth chart."
MORE: Yankees outfielder once battled ostrich in 11-plate spaghetti-eating contest
Advertisement
Valdez hit .209/.294/.363 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 31 games with the Pirates in 2025. The Dominican Republic native made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2023.
He does not have a hit in 10 trips to the plate thus far at Triple-A.
