The summer sales event in Pittsburgh has begun. Embattled general manager Ben Cherington made his first trade in what looks to be a busy July for the Pirates.
On Wednesday, the team traded Adam Frazier to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Triple-A infielder Cam Devanney.
Frazier was signed by the Pirates in the winter, inking a one year contract to come back to the city where his big league career took off. In 78 games, he slashed .255/.318/.336 with three home runs and 21 RBI.
He was sound defensively and honestly performed better than expected at the plate, but the 33-year-old was probably overused by the Pirates. On a contending team, he would not see the field nearly as much.
Frazier heads back to Kansas City, where he spent the 2024 season and slashed .202/.282/.294. Here’s to hoping he can have a better run there this time around.
The trade was not received particularly well, not necessarily because the Pirates moved out Frazier, but because of the return the Pirates got in Devanney.
On the surface, there’s a lot working against him. At 28 years old, the Nashua, NH native has never played a single game at the major league level. The odds of someone at his age suddenly blossoming into a suitable major leaguer are slim at best.
He’s played the last three seasons of his professional career at the Triple-A level. In 2023, when he was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization, he played his first full season at minor league baseball’s top rung.
Since 2024, he played Triple-A ball in Kansas City’s organization, still not finding a way to break through to the Royals.
He has a career slash line of .253/.341/.448 across six seasons and 584 games of minor league ball. That’s not an inspiring slash line for someone who has faced very little major league caliber pitching over that time.
But fairness to Devanney, he had virtually no path to big league success in Kansas City.
Devanney’s two primary positions, shortstop and third base, were blocked at the major league level. He certainly wasn’t going to get any playing time over shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., an MVP finalist who led the league with a .332 batting average last season. Witt is having another stellar year and has been a staple of Kansas City’s lineup this season.
He also wasn’t likely to get much time above third baseman Mikael Garcia. In the midst of a career year where the 25-year-old is slashing .297/.354/.454, Garcia is third on the Royals in games played, at 95.
The opportunity just wasn’t there. The Royals would have been stupid to try and pigeonhole Devanney into the lineup.
Now, let’s go to what is working in his favor.
Devanney was having a career year in Triple-A Omaha. Through 69 games, he slashed .272/.366/.565 for an OPS of .931. He smacked 18 home runs and was well on pace to put up a new minor league career high. Devanney led the Storm Chasers in OPS, homers, and RBI (with 55).
He is unlike the typical infielder that Cherington has acquired; he’s not highly regarded as a defensive specialist, but he actually has some pop in his bat.
Devanney is walking into a situation that might finally see him get that elusive major league call-up. Even though the Pirates optioned him upon arrival, he’s now on a short list of Triple-A farmhands that could be called upon once the dust settles around the trade deadline.
Unlike in Kansas City, none of the positions Devanney has played in the minor leagues are stonewalled in Pittsburgh. Shortstop could be wide open in a matter of weeks, if the Pirates decide to trade Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who is on an expiring contract.
Second and third base are also possibilities. Nick Gonzales isn’t going anywhere, but the Pirates now could use a backup option there. Meanwhile, over at third base, there’s a cloud of uncertainty hanging over longtime Pirate Ke’Bryan Hayes.
His name has swirled in trade rumors this summer, as the Gold Glove winner has continued to provide the Pirates will stellar defense, but lack at the plate. His defensive pedigree will have teams interested, particularly the ones who won’t have to rely on Hayes’ bat as much as the Pirates do.
Whether he gets dealt or not is obviously yet to be seen, but the possibility is certainly real and, if reports are to be believed, increasing in likelihood.
Left field is also an option for Devanney. He made a pair of starts there for Omaha this season, and the Pirates have shown their willingness to move utility infielders into the outfield on occasion. Frazier himself played 17 games in the outfield for the Pirates.
Like I said before, the odds of Devanney ever becoming something at this stage of his career aren’t high at all. But given the season he is having in Triple-A right now, this is his best shot yet.
There will be opportunity in Pittsburgh. If not right away, then at some point during the season. It’s much more likely that he becomes this year’s Alfonso Rivas than anything of impact, but that’s the kind of player that Frazier would net on the trade market.
We’ll see what happens.
Fifth Avenue Sports 
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