Five Trade Deadline Targets For The Pittsburgh Pirates

Aug 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington reacts while watching batting practice before the Pirates host the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington reacts while watching batting practice before the Pirates host the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Sep 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington (left) talks with Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington (right) on the field before the Pirates host the Red Sox at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington (left) talks with Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington (right) on the field before the Pirates host the Red Sox at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball’s Trade Deadline is just 20 days away. As it nears, here is a look at five targets that make sense for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With just a little less than three weeks to go until Major League Baseball’s Trade Deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates once again find themselves in the thick of a playoff race. The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently 46-43, which puts them in third place in the National League Central Division. More importantly, this 46-43 record puts the Pirates just one and a half games behind the New York Mets and Miami Marlins for the second National League Wild Card spot.

Last year at the trade deadline the Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the most active teams in all of Major League Baseball. General Manager Neal Huntington pulled the trigger on trades that added relief pitchers Joe Blanton and Joakim Soria, starting pitcher J.A. Happ, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, and first baseman Michael Morse to the Pirate roster. At this year’s trade deadline, I am hopeful that Huntington will be active once again.

The Pittsburgh Pirates do not need help on offense. The Bucs have had one of the best offenses in the National League all season, and scoring runs is not an issue. However, the Pirates could certainly use some pitching help. The Pirate rotation and bullpen both could use help at the trade deadline, and I believe Neal Huntington will add at least one pitcher between now and August 1st.

Just a reminder that this year’s Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is on August 1st instead of the traditional July 31st. The one and only reason for this is because July 31st is a Sunday this year. The trade deadline will return to July 31st in 2017.

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