The 2024 deal, which saw the Pittsburgh Pirates trade pitcher Quinn Priester to the Boston Red Sox, seemed rather innocuous. In return, the Pirates received middle infield prospect Nick Yorke. It made sense for both teams. Each subtracted from a position where they already had plenty of depth and added where they were lacking. Nobody from either fan base seemed upset about the deal. Priester, a first-round pick of the Pirates in 2019, hadn’t done much for them – a 5-9 record with a 6.46 ERA in 20 games throughout 2023 and 2024. No Pirates fan expected that he’d do much for the Red Sox, either. And he didn’t. It’s what he’s done for the Milwaukee Brewers that has caused some wringing of hands.
Revisiting a Pirates And Red Sox 2024 Trade Deadline Deal
OK, so it may not have quite the same ring as Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited. But the folks along Highway 145 are quite happy to have the right-handed Priester on their favorite team. While Priester didn’t do too badly in his lone appearance with the Red Sox, in 10 games with Triple-A Worcester, he posted a 5.32 ERA, and Boston quickly decided to move on from him. Last April, Boston traded him to Milwaukee for two prospects, outfielder Yophery Rodriguez and pitcher John Holobetz.
With the Brewers this season, Priester was 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 1.239 WHIP, and 125 ERA+ in 29 games, which included 24 starts, and led the majors in winning percentage. By the time you read this, perhaps Priester pitched in Monday’s National League Division Series game against the Chicago Cubs. Then again, perhaps not. Brewers manager Pat Murphy was coy about the subject with mlb.com’s Alex Stumpf. But it’s a real possibility that Priester might piggyback left-handed starter Aaron Ashby in Game 2. In his five relief appearances for the Brewers, Priester came in bulk relief of an opener. Ashby made just one start in 43 games. The stars are aligned for Priester to enter the game around the second or third inning.
Quinn Priester, Filthy 86mph Slider.
Shoutout to the fan in the upper right corner.
pic.twitter.com/nELavgA7cu
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 28, 2025
The Mighty Quinn
From the Pirates’ perspective, a simple analysis might suggest that the Priester trade was yet another case of a talented player flourishing elsewhere after the Pirates screwed him up. Then again, maybe not. Noah Hiles reported in the September 6 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Multiple sources suggested Priester had a lack of buy-in throughout his minor league development,” and the Pirates traded him “after deciding his own stubbornness would prevent him from maximizing his potential in Pittsburgh.” Hiles further speculated that this may have been the case with Boston as well.
In his interview with Stumpf, Murphy hinted that this may have been an issue with Priester at first in Milwaukee as well. Priester had taken a beating against the Chicago Cubs on May 2 in his fifth game with Milwaukee, leaving him with a 5.79 ERA. “I think that failure, if you will, for him launched him into open ears,” said Murphy, implying that those ears were closed previously.
Too Early
Of course, it’s too early to judge the trade of Priester for Yorke from the Pirates’ standpoint. In 33 games with the Pirates over the past two years, Yorke has hit .226/.272/.340, 3 HR, and 13 RBI. With Triple-A Indianapolis, however, he’s hit .306/.371/.434, 9 HR, and 85 HR in 144 games.
After trading Ke’Bryan Hayes at the deadline and losing Isiah Kiner-Falefa on a waiver claim, the Pirates held infield auditions in September. After having seen enough of Liover Peguero and Cam Devanney, Yorke started to see action at second base, knocking Nick Gonzales to shortstop. Yorke showed a willingness to get his uniform dirty, making several dazzling diving plays at second base. But his .232 average didn’t guarantee him anything for 2026. He also saw action in right field, where he misjudged a fly ball, and at first base.
While it’s too early to evaluate the trade, it’s fair to wonder why Pirates general manager Ben Cherington couldn’t have fetched more for Priester. The Red Sox were able to get two prospects for him. The star of that trade was Rodriguez, a left-handed-hitting outfielder who was the top signee in Milwaukee’s 2023 international signing class. He’s only 19 and hasn’t posted impressive minor league numbers yet. But he’s reportedly wise beyond his years in terms of his approach at the plate and is a plus runner and defender. If he reaches the potential that scouts project for him, he may become a better major league ballplayer than Yorke.
This is not to suggest that Cherington should have dealt Priester to the Brewers for Rodriguez and Holobetz, only that perhaps he should have received more from the 2024 trade. For now, Rodriguez is Boston’s No. 21 prospect, scheduled to arrive in the majors in 2027. That may be the proper year to evaluate how well Cherington did in prying Yorke from the Red Sox. That will be the subject of an article in 2027. Mark your calendar.
Main Photo Credits: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
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