Cubs Trade Scott Hairston to Nationals for prospect Ivan Pineyro

The Chicago Cubs traded veteran utilityman Scott Hairston to the Washington Nationals last night, receiving pitching prospect Ivan Pineyro in exhange. Here is a brief report on the newest member of the Cubs farm system.

Ivan Pineyro, RHP: Pineyro was signed by the Nationals out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. He pitched well in the Dominican Summer League in 2011 and again in the Gulf Coast League in 2012 (2.38 ERA, 23/7 K/BB in 23 innings) but found the going tougher after being promoted to Auburn in the New York-Penn League last summer, giving up 49 hits in 34 innings.

He has been much more effective in 2013, posting a 3.24 ERA with a 72/22 K/BB in 77.2 innings between Low-A Hagerstown and High-A Potomac.

Pineyro is a 6-1, 200 pound right-hander born September 29, 1991. He has a solid 89-94 MPH fastball and a very good changeup, but his breaking ball has been rated as mediocre before this year. He's made progress refining it into a useable curveball. With further development of his secondary pitches and command, Pineyro could be back-of-the-rotation starter or, more probably, a bullpen asset.

SUMMARY: I think picking up a C+/C type prospect for a surplus utility man who didn't fit into the long-term plan is a good return for the Cubs.