UPDATE: The Phillies will receive pitcher Yoervis Medina from the Pirates in the deal.
#Phillies have acquired RHP Yoervis Medina from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for LHP Jesse Biddle.
— Phillies (@Phillies) February 3, 2016
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The Philadelphia Phillies selected left-hander Jesse Biddle 27th overall in the 2010 MLB Draft. However, the pitcher's career has been out of sorts over the past two seasons and the latest rumors find he's been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer was the first to report Biddle had been traded earlier today, but it was not specified where. Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly soon confirmed Gelb's report and added the Pirates are acquiring the left-hander. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com confirmed both reports shortly after.
It's unclear who or what the Phillies will be getting in return.
The Phillies designated Biddle for assignment last week. The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in October after another poor campaign in 2015. He told Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this week that he had pitched through elbow pain this past season and admitted it was not a "mature decision."
Biddle had been ranked a top-100 prospect by Baseball America, MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus in recent years, but his last two seasons really affected his standing in the Phillies' organization. The left-hander went 5-10 with a 4.60 ERA in three levels of the minors in 2014 and then went 9-6 with a 4.95 ERA in Double-A (4.24 ERA) and Triple-A (6.25 ERA) this past year.
With the Phillies undergoing vast changes as they endure a rebuilding period, it wasn't too big a surprise that the team's new management decided to part ways with the former first-round draft pick.
Rumors focused on Biddle's future in recent seasons because his development in the minors hadn't been according to plan. In 133 professional games since 2010, he's just 40-45 with a 3.82 ERA and 1.39 WHIP while other Phillies pitching prospects such as Aaron Nola, Adam Morgan, Ben Lively and Zach Eflin managed to progress at a more promising rate.
Biddle will now join the Pirates organization, but he'll miss the entire 2016 season. However, the Pirates are known for reviving struggling pitchers, so perhaps Biddle can settle down in Pittsburgh and make his MLB debut with a new organization.
Stay tuned for updates on this development.
