Pirates trade reliever Morris for draft pick

LOS ANGELES — The Pirates on Sunday traded reliever Bryan Morris to the Miami Marlins for the 39th overall pick in Thursday's MLB draft.

The Pirates got the Marlins' competitive balance round A pick, which are awarded by lottery between the first and second rounds. The Pirates now own four of the first 73 picks in the draft: numbers 24, 39, 64 and 73.

"We feel this trade will have a positive impact on our organization in the short, moderate and long term," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement released by the club. "In the short term, this trade will add a quality prospect to our system that will enhance our ability to make additional prospect-for-major league player type deals while helping us to better sustain crucial prospect depth. We have made this move from a position of strength, as we have kept our core bullpen intact."

Pitcher Casey Sadler will be recalled to take Morris' spot on the active roster.

Morris, 27, was the Dodgers' first-round pick in 2006. The right-hander was traded to the Pirates in July 2008, as part of the three-team deal that sent Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox.

In three seasons with the Pirates, Morris went 9-7 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. All 81 of his appearances were out of the bullpen.

This article was written by Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE.

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