Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington announced earlier this afternoon that the Pirates have traded first baseman Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals for two pitchers, right-handers Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean.
Crowe, 26, started three games for the Nationals in 2020, with an 0-2 record and an 11.88 earned run average. He struck out eight batters and walked eight in 8.1 innings. According to the Pirates Web site, Crowe is currently ranked by MLBPipeline as the Nationals’ third-best prospect and as the 10th-best by Baseball America. He made his Major League debut with Washington in 2020 after going 7-10 with a 4.70 ERA in a career-high 26 starts between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Fresno in 2019.
Yean, 19, posted a 2-3 record with a 3.50 ERA in 10 starts in 2020. The Pirates Web site says Yean is currently listed by Baseball America as Washington’s eighth-best prospect after signing with the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2017. Since making his professional debut in 2018, Yean has compiled a career record of 3-5 with a 4.70 ERA (90.0ip/47er) and 75 strikeouts in 21 appearances (20 starts) between the Dominican Summer League Nationals, GCL Nationals and Auburn.
“Wil Crowe commands a solid fastball and several good secondary pitches. He brings a strong reputation and work ethic, and has a chance to compete for Major League innings in 2021,” said Cherington. “Eddy Yean is a Dominican League prospect who was one of the better young pitchers in the short season in 2019. He has a mid-90’s fastball to go along with a promising slider and changeup. Yean will join a growing group of promising starting pitching prospects within our minor league system.”
Bell, 28, set career highs in almost every offensive category in 2019, hitting .277 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs. But he was not that player in 2020, with just eight home runs, 22 RBIs, and a .227 batting average in a shortened season.
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