Red Sox

Red Sox trade Nick Yorke to Pirates for Quinn Priester

Priester was a Pittsburgh first-round pick in 2019.

Quinn Priester pitching for the Pirates against the Brewers in May. AP Photo/Morry Gash

July 29, 2024 | 3:03 PM

With just over a day to go before the July 30 MLB trade deadline, the Red Sox completed a trade to acquire additional pitching with a possible eye on the future.

Announced on Monday afternoon, the Red Sox dealt infield prospect Nick Yorke to Pittsburgh in return for 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester. The deal was originally reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The #RedSox today acquired RHP Quinn Priester from the Pittsburgh Pirates, in exchange for minor league INF/OF Nick Yorke.

Boston has optioned Priester to Triple-A Worcester.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 29, 2024

Priester, a 2019 first-round pick by the Pirates, was listed as the Pirates’ No. 4 prospect in 2020, and ranked as high as No. 58 on Baseball America’s top-100 prospect rankings in 2021.

But aside from his 3.41 ERA across several minor league levels, Priester has yet to prove himself against major league hitting. He’s posted a 6.46 ERA in 94.2 innings across two seasons, and was recently moved to the Pirates’ bullpen.

Yorke, 22, was a Red Sox first-round pick in 2020. And like Priester, he was also previously on Baseball America’s prospect rankings. Yorke was listed as high as No. 31 prior to the 2022 season.

In four minor league seasons spanning Boston’s system, Yorke has hit .277 with a .795 OPS. At Triple-A Worcester in 2024, he’s experienced an uptick in production. Since being called up from Double-A Portland in June, Yorke has hit .310 with six home runs in 38 games (an .898 OPS).