IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Impact of Offseason Trade Being Felt at Multiple Levels

Published on August 1, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - A day after the conclusion of the Major League non-waiver trade deadline, it's clear that any time the word "trade" is mentioned, there's bound to be uncertainty among fans, players and the media.

The uncertainty runs across the board as each party dissects a proposed deal from every possible angle. But given all the potential variables of a trade, from top to bottom, the most uncertainty comes from the ending results of the players being dealt. Because once both teams sign above the dotted line, the trade becomes official.

And all sales are final.

For the Indianapolis Indians and their parent club Pittsburgh Pirates, one thing is for sure: the 2012 offseason deal between the Boston Red Sox and Bucs has had a strong impact on both the big league club and its Minor League affiliate.

In late December 2012, the Red Sox and Pirates completed a massive deal that brought right-handers Mark Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel, outfielder/infielder Jerry Sands and infielder Ivan DeJesus to Pittsburgh in exchange for right-hander Joel Hanrahan and infielder Brock Holt.

"When you get a four-for-two, we (the Indians) got Pimentel, Sands and De Jesus, you have to like the deal from our side," Indians Manager Dean Treanor said. "I think we benefited here in Indianapolis from that trade."

The other piece of the deal was at the Major League Level with the reliever Melancon. The right-hander is enjoying a career year with Pittsburgh, and along with earning his first professional All-Star selection, has posted the lowest ERA among all National League relievers at 0.88.

Meanwhile, the Indians have enjoyed their fair share of the Pirates' booty.

DeJesus has produced the best numbers of the bunch offensively. While he's provided Treanor with a capable infielder who can play across the diamond, he's also batted .333 with 20 doubles, three home runs, 27 RBI and an on-base percentage of .392. The hot-hitter has run away as the most dangerous bat in the No. 8 and No. 9 hole of the Tribe's lineup by collecting a .349 clip between the two bottom-of-the-order spots.

"We've hit him down in the lineup," Treanor said. "Especially in a National League lineup when you're hitting eighth and the pitcher's on deck - you have to have an awareness of the strike zone and he shows that. He has done a really good job for us in that role and his average speaks for itself."

Sands, on the other hand, has given Treanor flexibility in the corners of the field. The power-hitting prospect has experience at left field, right field and first base, but Treanor said Sands has performed better in the outfield.

Though Sands got off to a slow start this season, he has 14 hits in 16 games since returning from a stint on the disabled list, while also knocking three doubles and a homer over that span. Though he said he's been feeling well at the plate and hopes that the home run started a hot streak, he puts more stress on his consistent defense behind his hurler on the rubber.

"That's one thing that I've always prided myself on, even if I'm not hitting, to go out there and play defense... because it's my career at the plate but it's also a pitcher's career when's he's pitching," Sands said.

Sands' slick glove in the field is clearly reflective of that attitude and has him third in the league in outfield assists while having not committed an error in 123 chances in the outfield.

The slugger was part of the blockbuster deal between the Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers as the eventual "player to be named later" that saw Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett go west.

The trade was completed on Oct. 4, 2012, but before ever officially suiting up with the Red Sox organization, Sands was jettisoned to the Pirates organization just three months later.

"I mean it was pretty cool," Sands said of being traded to the Pirates. "Obviously I wasn't with the Red Sox for too long, so it was kind of weird getting traded once and then traded again within two months.

"But I was excited to come over here. It was exciting to meet new people and it's been pretty fun."

All of the players acquired via the trade with Boston, save Melancon, have helped the Indians to a 65-48 record and 10-game cushion atop the International League West Division. But the most intriguing player from the trade, in terms of a role with the Pirates, is starter Stolmy Pimentel.

The 23-year-old began the season at the Double-A level for the third straight season, but after impressing through the year's early goings, received his first promotion to the Triple-A level. Including his stint with Double-A Altoona, Pimentel is 6-6 with a 3.11 ERA in 21 Minor League starts this year, most recently collecting a 2-3 record with an impressive 2.45 ERA in nine starts for the Tribe.

Treanor has no doubt in Pimentel's potential to contribute in Pittsburgh, maybe even at some point this season, but the right-hander's presence here in Indianapolis has been integral to the Indians' continued success. After witnessing a flurry of transactions to the rotation between injuries and transactions, Pimentel's arrival came as a welcome addition to help fortify a pitching staff constantly in flux.

"He's pitched deep into the game for us and really has solidified our rotation," Treanor said. "We've had so much movement with our pitching staff, that to have someone like that, solidifies it every night that he's out there. It's good to have."

The success from the Indians trio of players is a prime example of how trades can impact a club from top to bottom. And if any of the three Triple-A standouts continue their season past September and into October with the Pirates, it would be the ultimate sweetener, for both Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, on a trade from nearly a year ago.

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