There was no fire sale, no salary dump and no pushing the chips to the center of the table. At the non-waiver trade deadline Monday, the Pirates’ transaction log occupied only two lines. They subtracted left-hander Tony Watson from the bullpen and added 40-year-old right-hander Joaquin Benoit in a separate trade, leaving the Major League roster otherwise unchanged.
Both relievers will be free agents this fall. The Pirates sent Watson to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two low-level, high-upside prospects — 18-year-old infielder Oneil Cruz and 21-year-old right-hander Angel German — and gave manager Clint Hurdle a veteran to fill in for Watson by acquiring Benoit and cash from the Philadelphia Phillies for minor leaguer Seth McGarry.