PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates on Wednesday acquired right-hander Brady Dragmire from the Blue Jays for cash considerations, picking up a Minor League reliever who fits their ground-ball preference for pitchers.
Dragmire, 23, went 4-6 with a 4.38 ERA, one save and 41 strikeouts in 72 innings over 45 relief appearances for Double-A New Hampshire last season. Formerly Toronto's No. 26 prospect, Dragmire offers a plus fastball -- sitting between 92-94 mph and topping out at 97 -- as well as a changeup and slider that help him induce ground balls, according to MLBPipeline.com's scouting report. In six Minor League seasons, Dragmire has posted a 2.11 groundout-to-flyout ratio.
To make room for Dragmire on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated left-hander Phil Coke for assignment. Brought in to patch up the Bucs' battered bullpen in September, the veteran Coke pitched four scoreless innings in three appearances for Pittsburgh.
A 17th-round selection in the 2011 Draft, Dragmire owns a career 12-19 record with 10 saves and a 3.61 ERA in 158 appearances. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League last offseason, posting a 0.82 ERA in nine games. He spent three seasons in Rookie ball before breaking out in 2014 for Class A Lansing.
Minor moves
Right-handers Curtis Partch and Trey Haley elected free agency on Monday.
Partch, 29, made two appearances for the Pirates, giving up three runs while recording two outs, and finished the year with Triple-A Indianapolis. He put up a 2.24 ERA in 60 1/3 innings in Triple-A this season.
Haley, 26, received a Major League deal from the Bucs last offseason but didn't make it to Pittsburgh this year. He split the year between Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona, finishing with a 5.50 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 43 walks in 55 2/3 innings over 47 appearances.