Evan

Sisk

Sisk came to the Pirates at the trade deadline last year as part of the Bailey Falter trade. The 28-year-old had a 3.57 ERA and a 25/10 K/BB ratio in 17 2/3 MLB innings. He will pitch for the Pirates at some point this season.

Sisk was acquired from the Royals in the deal for Bailey Falter, and the 28-year-old will have a chance to make his debut with the Pirates. He’s put up impressive numbers in the minors, and was able to work around five walks in 5 1/3 innings with Kansas City in his previous stint to post a 1.69 ERA in that timeframe.

Sisk has made just five appearances out of the Royals’ bullpen this season, registering a 1.69 ERA, a troublesome 1.88 WHIP and an 11/5 K/BB ratio over 5 1/3 innings of work. Given the current state of the Pirates’ bullpen, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sisk earn an immediate opportunity there.

Sisk worked in back-to-back games, and while he’s pitched exceptionally with a 1.69 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in his limited time with the Royals, he’ll head to Triple-A to provide a fresh arm for the Kansas City bullpen. Expect Sisk to be back up in the summer, if not sooner.

The 28-year-old southpaw made two appearances during his time with the Royals, allowing two hits and a pair of walks over two scoreless innings. He’ll almost assuredly get another opportunity with the big league club before the summer is through. Jonathan Bowlan was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move on Friday.

Sisk will begin the 2024 season in the minors, but the 27-year-old southpaw has a good chance of making his MLB debut at some point this summer. He’s considered one of the better relief prospects in the Kansas City system, if you believe such a thing exists.

Sisk, 27, would have been a minor-league free agent if he didn’t get added to the 40-man roster. The southpaw will have a shot to pitch for the Royals in 2025 after posting an impressive 1.57 ERA for Triple-A Omaha over 58 appearances and an 81/26 K/BB across 57 1/3 innings.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com adds that minor league left-hander Evan Sisk and right-hander Steven Cruz will head back to the Royals in the deal. Taylor -- 31 -- remains among one of the premiere defensive center fielders in the game, so even if he’s only utilized as a fourth outfielder for the Twins he’ll add value to the ballclub. Taylor appeared in 124 games for the Royals during the 2022 campaign -- slashing an uninspiring .254/.313/.357 with nine homers, 43 RBI and four stolen bases across 456 plate appearances.

The 25-year-old southpaw joined the Twins in the deadline deal that sent J.A. Happ to the Cardinals back in 2021. He functioned as a weapon out of the bullpen at Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul in 2022 -- registering an outstanding 1.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and a 76/29 K/BB ratio across 63 frames. Even with their puzzling recent addition of Aroldis Chapman, there’s a chance that Sisk could carve out a role in the Royals’ Opening Day bullpen with a strong showing during Cactus League play.

Cruz, a 23-year-old right-hander, spent the 2022 campaign at Double-A Wichita where he registered a troublesome 5.14 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and a 72/35 K/BB ratio across 56 innings of work. He and Sisk will each add organizational bullpen depth for the Royals.