Joe Blanton to Pirates: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

After Joe Blanton was designated for assignment following the Kansas City Royals' acquisition of Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds, the 34-year-old was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates early Thursday morning, according to the team's official Twitter account. 

The Pirates will send cash considerations back to the Royals in exchange for the right-hander. 

In 15 appearances this season, Blanton has posted a 3.89 ERA and recorded 40 strikeouts over the course of 41.2 innings while notching two saves.

For both sides, this was a low-risk move. The Royals picked up cash in exchange for a player they were already planning on parting with, and the Pirates added a veteran pitcher on an expiring deal. 

According to Spotrac, Blanton is slated to make $1 million this year before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. 

With the Pirates, Blanton projects as a bullpen arm who can help bolster one of the league's strongest pitching units. At present, the Pirates rank second in the National League with a collective 3.09 ERA. Additionally, the bullpen ranks second in the NL with a 2.71 ERA. 

"The Pirates love their flexible guys who can give them innings, so it’s clear they chose to address their current bullpen shortcomings — Arquimedes Caminero and Antonio Bastardo, each one-inning guys — by adding what’s basically another Vance Worley type to the mix," Dejan Kovacevic wrote for DK Pittsburgh Sports.  

This move will assuredly get lost in the shuffle of what's already been a wild pre-trade deadline frenzy, but the NL wild-card leaders did well to reinforce their bullpen with a straightforward solution that won't complicate the team's payroll.