Pittsburgh Pirates Rumor Mill - all eyes on Huntington

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Jul 23, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross (38) pitches during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Starting pitching market

We already know that Huntington said he doesn’t feel that he can add a starting pitcher, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to. The Padres could be the team to watch tomorrow. Bob Nightengale of USA Today had this to say about Tyson Ross:

Club executives involved in the Tyson Ross talks are convinced the #Padres will trade him by deadline, and #Cubs are pushing hard.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2015

The Cubs have been awfully quiet so far, so I believe they’ll add a starter at some point tomorrow. Ross is the perfect type of pitcher the Pirates should target: young, cheap salary, and under control for multiple years. But that also means he could cost a lot. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports also laid out the main contenders for Rangers’ starter Yovani Gallardo, who is a rental player with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP this year. With the big-name starters already off the table, many teams will be competing for Gallardo, who has been a very consistent number-three type starter throughout his career. Gallardo is making $14 million this year, and I don’t see the Pirates pursuing him.

There are some other pitchers to keep an eye on who have an outside shot of being on the move tomorrow. Dan Haren seems like the perfect candidate for the Pirates, who has a 3.42 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP and is making $10 million this season. He’s also a rental, and it would be in Miami’s best interest to get something for him for this reason. James Shields could also be on the move. Shields more than likely won’t go, but the Padres will be in full sell mode, so you never know what could happen.

Mike Leake will be traded by #Reds tomorrow, but this winter the #Dbacks plan to aggressively pursue the local ASU student as a free agent.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2015

Jeff Samardzija seemed like a good candidate to be traded, but the White Sox don’t seem to be sellers anymore, so any chance at acquiring him is probably gone.

The Pirates have already done a fantasic job shoring up their bullpen, but just for kicks let’s take a look at what’s left on the reliever market.

Next: The market for bullpen help