For some time now, I’ve been lamenting the lack of catching prospects in the Pirates minor league system. Last year, I was banging the drum for Ben Cherington to acquire former Oakland prospect Jonah Heim, but that ship sailed recently when the A’s sent him to Texas as part of the Khris Davis-for-Elvis Andrus trade.
Cherington did snag an intriguing catching prospect this winter, acquiring Endy Rodriguez as part of the three-way deal with San Diego and New York that saw Joe Musgrove head west. The Padres technically sent pitcher Joey Lucchesi to the Pirates, but they quickly passed him on to the Mets in exchange for Rodriguez.