On Monday night, the Pirates made the most predictable move ahead of the trade deadline, dealing veteran starter José Quintana.
What was unexpected was the second player in that deal: Chris Stratton.
"We kind of knew the Q thing might happen," Wil Crowe told me on the field before Tuesday's game against the Brewers. "The Strat thing was definitely a shock, I think even to him when I texted him."
Stratton and Quintana were traded to the Cardinals for a pair of young players, right-hander Johan Oviedo and corner infielder Malcolm Nuñez. Oviedo was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis Tuesday, and Nuñez was assigned to Class AA Altoona.
Quintana was one a one-year bounce-back deal, but Stratton had one year remaining on his contract and was not having his best season.
"Strat was one of our leaders, if not our main leader,” Crowe said. “He took care of us. He was a veteran. He went about his business the right way, and he’s a true big-leaguer. There’s a lot to be said about that.
“We’re losing a key part of our team, a key asset of our team, but on top of that, we’re losing a great human.”
Stratton was acquired by the Pirates in May of 2019 and became a mainstay in their bullpen. While he struggled this year, his teammates consistently gave him votes of confidence that he would bounce back. He also played a large behind the scenes role for pitchers like Crowe, David Bednar and Duane Underwood Jr. to feel more comfortable about joining the team and the bullpen.
Quintana emerged as the Pirates' most consistent starter this year, and someone young pitchers like Roansy Contreras could gravitate to.
They're both professionals, which is what Cherington told Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak as the trade was being made.
"I don’t know that anytime you talk to a player about a trade, it’s easy, but those guys are real pros which, on one hand, makes it easier because they’re going to be total pros about it and understand," Cherington said. "On the other hand, makes it harder because you appreciate who they are."
And those were appreciated in the clubhouse, both for their performance and their voices.
“Losing that veteran presence [hurts],” Ke'Bryan Hayes told me. “It’s definitely a bummer losing those two guys.”
“It’s just how baseball is," Hayes said shortly after. "It’s a business. Some guys are going to come in, some guys our going to leave. It’s about figuring out that chemistry, getting everyone comfortable with the best versions of themselves.”
Hayes signed a franchise-record contract earlier this year, with the mindset being that he was willing to be the first player to commit long-term to the rebuild. Even at times like the trade deadline, he added that “I still feel like we’re heading in the right direction.”
They'll need to find new voices in the clubhouse to make sure they stay on the right path.
"I think it’s more of an opportunity for us to monitor and evaluate who’s going to step up into those roles and how they’re going to go about it," Derek Shelton said. "But in terms of replacing a guy that’s played for 10 years and done a bunch of different things, we will not be able to replace that. Where it really becomes interesting to me is how people react to that and how they step up into situations.”
One of those guys who could step up further is Hayes. In a recent conversation in the clubhouse, Hayes said he came the revelation that he is one of just four players who were drafted by the Pirates in 2014 or 2015. The other three are Mitch Keller, JT Brubaker and Kevin Newman.
“I’m one of the older ones now,” Hayes said. “When guys come up, they ask questions. Two years ago, I was the one doing that. It’s weird, but you have to embrace it.”
As for the outgoing players, losing their veterans, especially Stratton, is going to to leave a hole in the clubhouse. Gone, but not forgotten is the best way to put it.
“[He’s] someone we’re all going to keep in touch with," Crowe said. "All keep our friendship with and someone that we’re all going to be cheering for a lot.”
