Although they entered play on Friday with a 29-33 document and sit in final place within the Nationwide League Central, the Pittsburgh Pirates ought to severely contemplate being patrons – and maybe aggressive patrons – prematurely of this 12 months’s MLB commerce deadline.
The emergence of their beginning pitching workers has quickly modified the ceiling round this 12 months’s group and has opened a brand new window for rivalry within the coming seasons. Particularly this season, wherein there are solely two or three official contenders and playoff groups within the Nationwide League. A postseason spot is up for grabs.
The Pirates simply want extra bats. Particularly, bats which might be underneath group management for past this season. So let’s check out some potential choices they need to be enthusiastic about.
Jazz Chisholm | Miami Marlins
The Marlins have already began their newest hearth sale by transferring two-time batting champion Luis Arraez. Chisholm might be one of many subsequent gamers to go and the Pirates must be if he hits the commerce block.
Chisholm wouldn’t solely give the Pirates a top-of-the-order bat with some energy, but additionally a middle subject improve.
Even higher – Chisholm continues to be underneath group management for a few extra seasons, making him a really perfect match with their present core of expertise.
Luis Robert Jr. | Chicago White Sox
This might be the best, dream state of affairs for the Pirates. Not solely would Robert Jr. immediately turn into the most effective and most dynamic place participant within the Pirates lineup, he’s additionally underneath group management for a number of seasons and at very team-friendly, cost-controlled quantity.
The one actual destructive with Robert Jr.’s recreation is the damage historical past that has severely restricted his time on the sector. He has performed in additional than 100 video games simply as soon as since breaking into the bigs again in 2020.
There may even be no scarcity of groups given the expertise, manufacturing and upside that Robert Jr. brings. It could require an enormous commerce package deal, however given the place the Pirates are it will be a worthy danger given his age (25), contract state of affairs and power-speed mixture.
Brent Rooker | Oakland A’s
There may be not a lot proof to recommend the A’s are keen to commerce Rooker at this level, however that ought to not cease the Pirates from putting a name and asking.
He has emerged as a bona fide, middle-of-the-order energy bat the previous two seasons in Oakland and like Chisholm and Robert Jr. additionally comes with some group management, as he’s not eligible totally free company till 2028. Given the facility potential and group management, it will once more require a major commerce package deal however the Pirates desperately want extra energy of their lineup and Rooker might be the kind of middle-of-the-order slugger they want.
Josh Bell | Miami Marlins
Bell is somewhat totally different from the primary three gamers talked about right here as a result of he’s a free agent after this season and would strictly be a rental.
However the Rowdy Tellez expertise has been a catastrophe for the Pirates at first base they usually have lots of familiarity with Bell given his time in Pittsburgh from 2016-20. He’s a confirmed energy hitter who could be a major short-term improve at maybe a really inexpensive price by way of belongings.
Tyler O’Neill | Boston Pink Sox
Like Bell, O’Neill could be one other potential rental. However he additionally may be a considerably extra impactful participant given the season he’s having on the plate (a 138 OPS+; 100 is league common) and his defensive prowess within the outfield as a former Gold Glove winner. Even with their 32-31 document as of Friday, the Pink Sox may nonetheless discover themselves as sellers in a extremely aggressive American League East except one thing dramatically modifications within the coming weeks.
