Yamaico Navarro, who was sent to the Kansas City Royals by the Royals this past season in exchance for Mike Aviles, has been traded again, this time to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In exchange for the 24-year-old infielder, the Pirates will send prospects Brooks Pounders and Diego Goris to Kansas City, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.
Navarro, traded to the Royals by the Red Sox at last year's trade deadline, has hit just .206 between the two organizations over the past two years, but was rated as the Red Sox No. 9 prospect in 2009 by Baseball America, who projected him as the team's shortstop of the future.
At the time of the trade, Baseball America said about him:
"Navarro controls the strike zone reasonably well and has tremendous bat speed, so he has the ability to hit for solid average with as many as 15-20 homers per season. His strong arm is his best defensive tool, and he also shows some quickness and soft hands. His effort and conditioning waver at times, though he has gotten more consistent in those regards in recent seasons. Aviles may be better prepared to help the Red Sox today, but Navarro has more long-term potential."
The Royals had no place to give Navarro regular playing time in 2012, with Johnny Giavotella, Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas firmly entrenched at second base, short stop, and third base, respectively. In exchange, they got two prospects.
Pounders was a second-round pick in (with a first-round name) taken by the Pirates in 2009. Despite being 6'4" 255 lbs, Pounders' fastball topped out in the low-90s coming out of high school, but was noted for having advanced secondary stuff and a feel for four pitches. Despite a lack of power stuff, however, the Pirates have already converted Pounders to a reliever. It remains to be seen what the Royals will do with him.
Goris is a 20-year-old INF who has played primarily short stop and has spent all four of his professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League, having yet to play domestically. He has hit .302 during his four years, showing little power or ability to draw walks, but not striking out frequently either.