Jacob Stallings was serving as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ player representative during collective bargaining agreement negotiations with MLB owners in Dallas when he got word that he would no longer be representing the Pittsburgh Pirates as a player.

Stallings had heard his name in trade rumors but didn’t learn until he took a five-minute break on Monday afternoon that he was traded to the Miami Marlins for three players, rookie right-hander Zach Thompson and two prospects, right-hander Kyle Nicolas and center fielder Connor Scott.

“I probably wouldn’t have chosen that time to find out I’ve been traded for the first time if I had the choice,” Stallings said Tuesday on an introductory video conference call for the Marlins. “It definitely caught me off guard. I had seen the rumors. I’d heard from a couple people — I won’t name any names — that it was a possibility but nothing more than that. I certainly didn’t know anything was imminent. So, no, I didn’t hide it well.”

The 31-year-old Stallings was drafted by the Pirates in the seventh round in 2012 and became their longest-tenured player last season, when he won his first NL Gold Glove at catcher. Stallings also became a respected clubhouse leader, their nominee for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award for his charity work, a two-time winner of the Chuck Tanner Award for media cooperation and was voted team MVP by the Baseball Writers Association of America Pittsburgh chapter in 2020. As excited he was about joining a Marlins team that has been active in signing free agents, Stallings was a bit forlorn about being part of the Pirates’ teardown.

“It’s sad, honestly,” Stallings said. “It’s the only organization I’ve known. As much excitement as there it is to go to Miami, there’s obvious sadness in leaving the organization I’ve known. I think probably most players experience that to some degree when they’re traded. I’m going to miss the people. I’m going to miss my friends, teammates and stuff. It was hard. It was hard to get the call.”

Since January 2020, Stallings has watched the Pirates trade All-Stars in center fielder Starling Marte, first baseman Josh Bell and second baseman Adam Frazier, former Opening Day starters in Joe Musgrove and Jameson Taillon and closer Richard Rodriguez. They also have cut ties with the likes of first baseman Colin Moran, pitchers Steven Brault and Trevor Williams and right fielder Gregory Polanco.

Stallings climbed through the minors to make his major league debut in 2016, only to get designated for assignment twice and clear waivers both times. He played the majority of 249 games over the past three seasons, starting a career-best 104 games at catcher in 2021, when the Pirates (61-101) finished last in the NL Central for the third consecutive season.

Even though the Pirates invested heavily in catching prospects in the past year — trading for Endy Rodriguez, Carter Bins and Abrahan Gutierrez and selecting Henry Davis No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft — Stallings always hoped that he would remain with the team.

“I think the hardest part is when your friends get traded away,” Stallings said. “I think that’s the hardest part of right now is leaving my friends that are there. I don’t think I ever really envisioned being traded. I knew it was a possibility but I think in my head, at least, I always was thinking that I would be there and playing those scenarios out in my head. Like maybe they’ll keep me around and want me to back up Henry when he’s ready. Just those thoughts instead of getting traded. I just tried to be where my feet are.”

Stallings said he expressed his appreciation to Pirates general manager Ben Cherington, as he did predecessor Neal Huntington, for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to be a starting catcher.

Despite always viewing himself as a long shot to make it to the majors, it didn’t stop Stallings from dreaming about winning a Gold Glove. A finalist in 2020, he won the Rawlings award after leading all catchers with 21 defensive runs saved and not allowing a passed ball. That will be his legacy with the Pirates, becoming the first catcher since Mike LaValliere in 1987 to win a Gold Glove.

“I don’t know if I’ve left a mark on the organization,” Stallings said. “I’m not going to lie to you, I think winning the Gold Glove was an all-encompassing, dream-come-true cliche, whatever you want to put on it, certainly hold true for me. It was my dream since I was a kid. I didn’t dream of being a big league player; I didn’t think that was possible, but maybe I could win a Gold Glove one day.

“In terms of leaving a mark on the organization, I don’t know. I just hope that the people there within the organization and outside of the organization, fans, teammates, staff, all felt like I treated them well and treated them with kindness. That’s all I really care about, to be honest.”

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