'Chaotic, but exciting': 3 newest Bucs discuss Deadline, opportunities

HOUSTON -- Jalen Beeks was in Newport, Calif., with his family Monday when he got the call that he had been traded. He knew it was certainly a possibility, pitching on a Rockies team that isn’t going to make the playoffs, but that’s life at the Trade Deadline. Anything can happen at any time.

“A little chaotic, but exciting as well,” Beeks said.

For Beeks, that bit of beachside disruption announced his move to the Pirates, being the first of three moves the team would make for Major League veterans at the Trade Deadline. In addition to the lefty reliever, they also picked up outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from the Marlins and utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa from the Blue Jays. All three players addressed needs the team had: Deepening the lineup and getting another much-needed southpaw into the bullpen.

"I think we're better today than we were about four hours ago,” Derek Shelton said Tuesday, shortly after the Deadline had passed.

Those three are a big reason why the team and roster are better right now.

It starts with Beeks, giving the team the lefty specialist they haven’t had all year with Ryan Borucki on the injured list. And Beeks can get lefties out, holding them to a .179 batting average and .520 OPS on the season.

“It’s a really good team,” Beeks said of the Pirates. “I liked the mentality from the other side. I’m curious to see what it’s like on this side.”

De La Cruz’s addition came at an optimal time with Joshua Palacios landing on the injured list, but he is someone the Pirates have coveted for years, general manager Ben Cherington shared after the Deadline.

“Everybody has received me with open arms,” De La Cruz said, via interpreter and coach Stephen Morales. “It feels like I'm part of the family already, and it feels good to come at this point, just to be able to contribute to the Pirates winning."

Power is a big reason why the Pirates wanted him. They could use another big right-handed bat in the lineup, and he can be just that, homering 18 times this season for the Marlins. While he didn’t go yard in his team debut Wednesday, he blistered a pair of base hits well over 100 mph, giving a small taste of his potential. And if his actual slugging percentage (.418) can creep up to what Baseball Savant projects it should be (.466), then he could continue to tap into that power.

"Just proud of our work during the offseason,” De La Cruz said. “I think that during the offseason I thought I can become a better power hitter than I was, and I worked on my power during the offseason, and it's showing up right now."

Kiner-Falefa has also enjoyed a spike in offensive production this year, which he attributes to playing with confidence and a tweak in approach from being a push hitter. It translated to a .292 batting average and .758 OPS, both of which are career highs.

But it’s undeniable that Kiner-Falefa's best tool is his glove. He can play across the diamond -- he’s even caught 586 innings in the Majors -- and has posted quality defensive metrics everywhere (besides first base, where he hasn’t played yet in his career). This year, he was worth five defensive runs saved at second base, five at third base and two at shortstop, all while missing the reps this past month with a left knee injury.

“I don't want to say too much, but I feel like I'm a game-changer on defense,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I've been a game-changer this year. I've missed a month but am still metrically at the top of the game. Knock on wood, but I feel like I'm a game-changer on defense."

Kiner-Falefa is still on the injured list, but he started a rehab assignment earlier this week and there’s a chance he could be activated as soon as Friday. And while his versatility will come into play, the absence of Nick Gonzales could make second base a natural landing spot.

It will be quite the change in scenery for Kiner-Falefa. This will be his first stint with a National League team, but he’s also moving from the struggling Blue Jays to a team competing for a playoff spot.

“I was coming back to try to win the batting title in the American League,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I think that mentality switches to winning a World Series now.”