Pirates Acquire Josh Walker From Mets

By Stephen Riale

Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

July 30, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates are finalizing a deal to acquire LHP Josh Walker (0-0, 5.11 ERA, 0 SV) from the New York Mets. The 29-year-old Walker had recently been designated for assignment.

Reports state that the return for the Mets is rookie ball lefty starter Nicolas Carreno. Carreno owns a 3.74 ERA, 1.292 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings in the Dominican Summer League in 2024. That’s good enough for 15 strikeouts per nine innings for the 18-year-old hurler.

Josh Walker Trade for Pirates

For the Pirates, Walker adds more depth to an inconsistent bullpen. In 25 games for Triple-A Syracuse, Walker had an ERA of 2.83 to go along with 39 strikeouts and 5 saves. The hope for the Pirates is that Walker can show some of the promise he had displayed in Triple-A earlier this season. Aroldis Chapman (4-4, 3.63 ERA, 4 SV) has been inconsistent during his stint with the Pirates. More reliable bullpen depth would be a major step in the right direction.

Pirates Making Moves

This move is the latest in what has become a busy deadline for the Pirates. On Monday the Pirates completed two trades. One trade was another reliever swap, LHP Jalen Beeks (6-4, 4.74 ERA, 9 SV) was sent to the Pirates from the Colorado Rockies. Before that deal on Monday, the Pirates acquired INF prospect Nick Yorke from the Boston Red Sox for RHP Quinn Priester.

While the Pirates have made several minor moves, we have still yet to see the trade for an All-Star caliber player that many expected them to make. With roughly four hours until the trade deadline at 6 PM Eastern, the Pirates still might make that move. Depth pieces such as Walker will lessen the strain of giving up prospects to bring a high-profile player to Pittsburgh. The Pirates, behind the play of rookie Paul Skenes (6-1, 1.90 ERA) and LF Bryan Reynolds (.288, 61 RBI) are 2 games out of a wild card spot. With time winding down, fans are still holding out hope that a larger deal is coming. A playoff berth for the Pirates would be the franchise’s first since 2015.