OXON HILL, Md. — As trades and signings removed potential starting pitchers from the pool of available players, the ripple effects infused that group with some new ones, offering teams like the Pirates who seek starters more options.
The Pirates were never going to get Chris Sale. It took baseball’s top prospect, Yoan Moncada, and three other talented minor leaguers for the Boston Red Sox to pry away the left-hander from the Chicago White Sox Tuesday. They were also never going to pay $48 million to Rich Hill, who will be 37 on opening day, like the Los Angeles Dodgers did.