10:03pm: Reliever Dauri Moreta is headed back to Pittsburgh in return, Biertempfel reports (Twitter link).
9:24pm: The Reds are acquiring infielder Kevin Newman from the Pirates, report Ken Rosenthal and Rob Biertempfel of the Athletic (on Twitter). The deal is pending medical review.
It’s the first time in his career that Newman changes organizations. Pittsburgh selected him with the 19th overall pick in the 2015 draft, and he reached the majors roughly three years later. He struggled in 31 games down the stretch as a rookie, but he had a solid sophomore showing. The Arizona product hit .308/.353/.446 across 531 plate appearances in 2019, securing the primary shortstop job at PNC Park in the process.
Newman held that job for the next couple seasons, but his offensive productivity wilted. He had well below-average numbers in both 2020-21, combining to hit just .226/.268/.302 through 726 plate appearances. Even with strong defensive metrics in 2021, his overall production hovered right around replacement level. The rebuilding Bucs continued to give him opportunities, however, and he righted the ship enough this year they managed to find a trade partner.
The 29-year-old posted a .274/.316/.372 mark over 309 plate appearances this past season. He lost over two months to a severe left groin strain mid-year, but his rate production was his best since 2019. His overall offensive profile hasn’t much changed throughout his career. Newman makes a ton of contact, putting the ball in play early in counts to suppress both his strikeout and walk totals. He has very little power, with just 20 career home runs — 12 of which came during a 2019 season that saw arguably the liveliest ball in league history. He’s reliant on a quality batting average on balls in play to prop up his numbers but looks like a decent bottom-0f-the-lineup type when enough singles drop in.
Newman’s calling card is his ability to play up the middle. He’s logged over 2500 big league innings at shortstop, typically rating at or a bit below league average. He drew quality marks in 2021, but for his career, he’s been an estimated nine runs below average according to Defensive Runs Saved and six runs below par in the estimation of Statcast. Public metrics have rated him slightly below average in just under 800 career frames at second base as well.
More to come.