PHILADELPHIA -- If Jesse Biddle achieves his big league dreams, it won't be with his hometown team.
The Phillies on Wednesday traded Biddle to the Pirates for right-hander Yoervis Medina. They designated Biddle for assignment Friday to make room for left-handed relief pitcher Bobby LaFromboise, whom they claimed off waivers from the Angels.
The Phillies selected Biddle, 24, in the first round of the 2010 Draft, but the prospect had Tommy John surgery in September and will miss the entire 2016 season.
Biddle, who grew up in Philadelphia and attended Germantown Friends School, went 40-45 with a 3.81 ERA in 133 appearances (132 starts) in six Minor League seasons. But after being designated for assignment, the Phillies had 10 days to trade, release or waive him.
The Pirates have done well taking chances on pitchers who have struggled or battled injuries. They no doubt feel like they can tap into Biddle's talents once he is healthy and pitching again. It only cost them Medina, whom they claimed on waivers and recently outrighted. They made room for Biddle on the 40-man roster by designating Minor League right-hander A.J. Schugel for assignment.
"We feel there is the upside of a quality starting pitcher with Biddle," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "We were willing to tackle the challenge of helping him get healthy and reach the ceiling that many in the industry believed he had when he was identified as one of the best pitching prospects in the industry."
Medina, 27, is 10-9 with a 3.08 ERA in 146 appearances in his career with the Mariners and Cubs. He will be in Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.