On January 18, four years ago, Ben Cherington took another step in rebuilding the Pirates and shifting toward a youth movement by trading Pittsburgh’s 2020 Opening Day starter, Joe Musgrove, to the Padres in a fascinating three-team deal.
This trade was one of three significant moves made that offseason, but it ultimately stands out as the best of the trio. Four years later, it’s worth reassessing this deal.
The Pirates’ decision to trade Musgrove during the 2021 offseason has proven to be their most successful move from that winter. The other two major trades from that period—sending Josh Bell and Jameson Taillon elsewhere—haven’t panned out. Bell’s key return is now playing overseas, and three of the four players acquired in the Taillon deal are no longer with the Pirates. In contrast, two players from the Musgrove trade are poised to make a significant impact in 2025, while two others remain in Pittsburgh’s minor-league system, and one has returned to San Diego.
The centerpiece of the package at the time was Hudson Head, who entered the Pirates’ system as their sixth-ranked prospect in 2021. However, Head has since fallen out of the rankings after three seasons in High-A Greensboro. His 2024 campaign was his worst yet, producing a .688 OPS with 13 home runs and a wRC+ of 97—disappointing numbers for a player with his potential.
David Bednar turned out to be the most valuable piece of the trade for Pittsburgh. San Diego sold low on him, and the Pirates have benefited immensely. Despite a down year in 2024, Bednar has made two All-Star appearances with the Pirates. Over his tenure in Pittsburgh, he’s posted a 3.11 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and recorded 84 saves.
Drake Fellows was another acquisition in the deal, but his development has been slow. Now 26, he has reached Triple-A but struggled throughout his minor-league career. In 2024, he posted a 5.67 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and 4.38 FIP across three levels. While there’s still time for him to improve, he’s not yet ready to contribute at the big-league level.
Omar Cruz, another piece from the Padres, had an up-and-down stint with the Pirates before returning to San Diego. In 2024, he had a strong season in Triple-A, posting a 3.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 2.96 FIP. Although he could be a valuable left-handed arm for San Diego, the Pirates weren’t wrong to part ways with him given their circumstances at the time.
The final player in the trade, Endy Rodriguez, came from the Mets to complete the three-team deal. Rodriguez missed the 2024 season due to elbow surgery but is expected to serve as the Pirates’ backup catcher in 2025. In his brief MLB debut in 2023, he struggled offensively, producing a .612 OPS with three home runs and a wRC+ of 65. Despite this, his upside at the plate makes him a player to watch moving forward.
In retrospect, while this trade wasn’t a blockbuster, it provided Pittsburgh with a two-time All-Star closer in Bednar and a promising catcher in Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Joe Musgrove has been outstanding for the Padres when healthy, though injuries have hampered him in recent years.
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