The Pittsburgh Pirates today acquired left-handed pitcher Taylor Rogers and infielder Sammy Stafura (pronounced “stuh-FOUR-uh”) from Cincinnati, in exchange for infielder Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Rogers was 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA (33.0ip/9er) and 34 strikeouts in 40 relief appearances with Cincinnati at the time he was acquired by Pittsburgh today. Over his final 12 appearances (9.2ip) with the Reds, Rogers allowed just three unearned runs while striking out 11 batters.
In his 10 big-league seasons, the 34-year-old Rogers has 83 saves, a 3.28 ERA (523.2ip/191er) and 607 strikeouts while pitching for Minnesota (2016-21), San Diego (2022), Milwaukee (2022), San Francisco (2023-24) and Cincinnati (2025). He’s one of three active left-handed relievers in Major League Baseball with 600 strikeouts, along with Aroldis Chapman (1308) and Josh Hader (826).
In 2021, Rogers was an American League All-Star with Minnesota. That same season, he was the recipient of the organization’s Carl R. Pohlad Outstanding Community Service Award.
Stafura was rated by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America as the No. 9 prospect in Cincinnati’s organization at the time of today’s trade. In 88 games with Low-A Daytona this season, Stafura batted .262 (84-for-321) with 18 doubles, nine triples, four home runs, 48 RBI, 63 walks, 28 stolen bases and 48 runs scored. His nine triples are tied for the third-most in all of Minor League Baseball. Stafura ranked second in the Florida State League in total bases (132), tied for second in extra-base hits (31), third in hits and walks, sixth in OBP (.393) and tied for sixth in RBI at the time of the trade.
In 2024, Stafura hit a combined .270 (93-for-345) with 13 doubles, six triples, eight home runs, 54 RBI, 64 walks, 31 stolen bases and 70 runs scored in 92 games split between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Reds and Daytona. He ranked second among all Reds farmhands in runs scored, tied for fourth in stolen bases, seventh in OBP (.387) and 10th in OPS (.799).
The 20-year-old Stafura was Cincinnati’s second-round selection in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Walter Panas (NY) High School, where he was recognized as the state’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year as a senior. Stafura made his professional debut during the 2023 season, appearing in 12 games with the ACL Reds.