The Pittsburgh Pirates have swung a trade, sending right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league shortstop Alika Williams, a source confirmed to Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
Williams, 24, was the 37th overall pick by the Rays in the 2020 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University.
In 211 career games in parts of three seasons in the minor leagues, Williams has slashed .254/.331/.384 with 39 doubles, 20 home runs and 131 RBIs.
In the field, the majority of Williams’ reps have come at short while he’s also appeared at second base — including 17 games played at second this year.
This season in Double-A, Williams was hitting .237 with a .731 OPS, 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 23 RBIs.
Stephenson this season was 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA across 18 appearances with the Pirates. The right-hander was claimed off waivers from the Colorado Rockies last season.
Another roster move will follow as the Pirates will need to replace Stephenson on the 26-man roster prior to Friday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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