Pirates trade RHP Robert Stephenson to Rays

Fri Jun 2 2:10pm ET
Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded reliever Robert Stephenson to the Tampa Bay Rays for shortstop prospect Alika Williams on Friday.

Stephenson, 30, is 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA, 17 strikeouts and eight walks in 18 bullpen appearances (14.0 innings) this season.

The right-hander is 14-19 with a 4.91 ERA in 229 games (22 starts) with the Cincinnati Reds (2016-20), Colorado Rockies (2021-22) and Pirates.

Williams, 24, was a first-round pick (37th overall) by Tampa Bay in the 2020 draft out of Arizona State. He is hitting .237 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 42 games this season at Double-A Montgomery.


Williams has been assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis.