SANTIAGO BECOMES A PIRATE
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired catcher Benito Santiago and cash considerations from the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Juan Carlos Oviedo.
What does it give the Pittsburgh Pirates
After dealing away all-star catcher Jason Kendall, the Pirates had a bit of a hole behind the plate, not wanting to go with prospect J.R. House right away. So Santiago, if healthy, would seem a nice stop-gap to keep the position warm for a few months or a year. He'll be 40 by Opening Day, so he's not the all-star he once was, but he still has something to offer both behind the plate and at the plate in a platoon role.
What does it give the Kansas City Royals
Young enough to be the son of the man he was traded for, Nunez gives the Royals a 21-year-old righty who has been compared in size and stuff to a young Pedro Martinez. He still has a ways to go, but he could find himself in the Royals' rotation in a couple of years. Not a bad pickup for a team that didn't have much use for Santiago anymore.
Fantasy impact
