Pirates trade RHP Quinn Priester to Red Sox for IF/OF Nick Yorke in swap of former 1st-rounders

The Pittsburgh Pirates have made no secret of their desire to upgrade their offense, though their first deal to do so before Tuesday’s trade deadline was for a top-10 prospect when they sent right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester to the Boston Red Sox for minor league infielder/outfielder Nick Yorke in a swap of former first-round picks.

“We need to continue to add bats in our system, whether it’s at the major-league level or the upper levels,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said in a pregame interview on SportsNet Pittsburgh. “It was a situation where we lined up well. We feel like we have some starting pitching and were able to trade out of some depth.”

The 22-year-old Yorke, selected No. 17 overall in 2020, can play second base and left field. Yorke, who was ranked Boston’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline and No. 14 by Baseball America, is now the Pirates’ No. 5 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s updated team prospect rankings.

“Nick has been a strong offensive performer and versatile defender in the minor leagues,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement. “We are excited to add him to our upper-level position player group.”

Shelton cited Yorke’s ability to hit, and the 6-foot, 200-pounder is a right-handed hitter who started the season in Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A Worcester, where he was batting .310/.408/.490 with eight doubles, six home runs and 19 RBIs in 38 games.

“He’s having a really good year in Triple-A,” Shelton said. “He can play second base and he can play in the corners, which is important for us. And he’s continued to get better, which is the main thing we were looking for in an offensive player.”

Priester, the No. 18 overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft, was the final first-round pick made by previous general manager Neal Huntington. The 23-year-old Priester was 5-9 with a 6.46 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 94 2/3 innings over 20 major league appearances, including 14 starts.

Priester was 2-6 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, 13 walks and seven home runs allowed in 44 2/3 innings over 10 appearances, making six starts before being moved to the bullpen to work in long relief.

A former Pirates’ minor league pitcher of the year, Priester didn’t earn a spot in the starting rotation on the Opening Day roster but shined at Triple-A Indianapolis, going 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, 37 strikeouts against seven walks in 33 2/3 innings over seven starts.

The Pirates promoted him to the majors April 19, after left-hander Marco Gonzales went on the injured list with a left forearm strain. Priester allowed five runs on five hits and one walk in four innings in his final Pirates appearance, a 9-5 loss at Arizona on Saturday.