Pirates trade Kevin Newman: Move gives an edge to Oneil Cruz at shortstop

PITTSBURGH — The Pirates on Friday cemented their changing of the guard at shortstop by trading Kevin Newman, their longest-tenured player, to the Reds for relief pitcher Dauri Moreta.

The trade came into focus shortly after the Pirates announced they’d tendered contracts for 2023 to Newman and five other arbitration-eligible players: first baseman Ji-Man Choi, and pitchers Robert Stephenson, Mitch Keller, JT Brubaker and Duane Underwood Jr.

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The Pirates also avoided arbitration with Miguel Andújar by signing the outfielder to a $1.525 million one-year deal.

Newman, 29, was a first-round pick in 2015 and was the Pirates’ everyday shortstop from 2019 to 2021. He spent much of the first half of last season on the injured list and subsequently lost the shortstop job to prodigious rookie Oneil Cruz.

Over 78 games, Newman batted .274/.316/.372 with two home runs. He played a career-high 42 games at second base, including 37 starts.

With Newman’s salary inching up — he is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and is projected to make $2.8 million next season — and younger players ready to step in at short and second, he became expendable.

Cruz has great athleticism and a strong arm but can be error-prone. Management has considered trying him in the outfield, but Cruz is adamant about staying at shortstop. With Newman out of the picture, Cruz should get a longer leash at short next season.

Newman’s departure leaves Rodolfo Castro, Ji Hwan Bae and Diego Castillo to compete for the second base job in spring training. Middle infielders Liover Peguero and 2020 first-rounder Nick Gonzales are pushing up from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Reds needed a shortstop after trading Kyle Farmer, a starter the past two seasons, to the Twins. To fill the spot, they gave up a right-handed reliever with good control who is still trying to get traction in the majors.

Moreta, 26, made 39 outings (one start) for the Reds over the past two seasons and put up a 5.14 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He throws a four-seam fastball that sits at 96 mph and a plus slider.

In 2021, Moreta had a breakout season in the minors. He had a 0.83 WHIP and averaged 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings at Double-A Chattanooga and a 1.37 ERA and 7.2 K/9 at Triple-A Louisville.

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Baseball America ranked Moreta the Reds’ No. 15 prospect going into last season. He scuffled in April and May, allowing 15 runs in 15 games, and was sent down to Louisville. After being recalled on June 19, he held batters to a .195 average and had a 2.92 ERA, allowing runs in only three of his final 20 appearances.

(Photo of Kevin Newman completing a double play: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)

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