Five Trade Deadline Targets For The Pittsburgh Pirates

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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 /

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.

Next: A Right-Handed Reliever

Jun 21, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Daniel Hudson (41) throws a pitch during the ninth inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson

Arizona Diamondbacks’ right-handed pitcher Daniel Hudson is a player I have been intrigued by for quite awhile. In fact, when Hudson was a free agent after the 2012 season I wanted the Pittsburgh Pirates to sign him. However, he would resign with Arizona.

In 33 innings pitched this season Daniel Hudson has struggled some, but his peripherals indicate he is due for some good regression. After posting a 3.86 ERA last season, Hudson has watched his ERA balloon to 4.91 this year. However, Hudson’s 3.27 BB/9 and 0.55 HR/9 are both better numbers than he averaged last season.

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Furthermore, Daniel Hudson’s 3.81 FIP indicates that he has pitched better than his 4.91 ERA. With relievers ERA can become skewed very easily as their outings are typically short, and sometimes few and far between as well. So ERA is usually not the best stat when evaluating relief pitchers.

Another encouraging sign with Hudson is his fastball velocity. This season, Hudson’s fastball is averaging 95.4 miles per hour which is higher than his career average of 93.4 miles per hour. Hudson also throws a plus slider that opposing batters are hitting just .217 off of this season.

While the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen has been better of late, they could still use another middle reliever. Daniel Hudson fits that bill and would be a good fit in the Pirate bullpen. And, make no mistake about it, he is definitely available on the trade market. Especially after the Diamondbacks just traded another reliever, Brad Ziegler, to the Red Sox last week.

Daniel Hudson would fill the role of a much needed middle relief arm that the Pittsburgh Pirates have. Hudson should be able to do a good job of helping to bridge the gap from the starting pitcher to Neftali Feliz, Tony Watson, and Mark Melancon at the back of the Pirates’ bullpen.

Next: A Left-Handed Starting Pitcher

Jul 2, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz (13) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Left-handed starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz

Left-handed starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz is having a great season for the San Diego Padres. The 27-year-old is putting together what has been by far the best season of his Major League career. For a lot of reasons, Pomeranz would be a great fit in the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation.

The Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation has gotten crowded with Chad Kuhl, Jameson Taillon, and Tyler Glasnow being promoted to the Major Leagues. However, some of those options, ahem Jon Niese and Jeff Locke, are not exactly good options. Combine that with the struggles of Francisco Liriano this season, and the Pirates could use another starting pitcher still.

In 102 innings pitched this season Drew Pomeranz has a 2.47 ERA, a career best 3.18 FIP, and a 3.66 xFIP. Pomeranz is also averaging a career best 10.15 K/9, his 0.71 HR/9 is the lowest of his career, and his 3.62 BB/9, while high, is not terrible either. Mix in Pomeranz being a left-handed pitcher, and he would be a great fit for PNC Park and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The price tag on Drew Pomeranz would be a bit higher than some other starting pitchers on the market, but it would be worthwhile. Drew Pomeranz is under team control for the next three seasons, which raises his trade value. The San Diego Padres are in full-fledged sell mode, but they are not just going to give Pomeranz away.

Moving forward, a starting rotation anchored by Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Tyler Glasnow, and Drew Pomeranz for at least the next three seasons after 2016 is a very enticing thought. Plus, Pomeranz would help the 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates quite a bit as well.

Next: A Left-Handed Relief Pitcher

Jul 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Fernando Abad (58) throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Target Field. The Twins won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Left-handed reliever Fernando Abad

The Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen only has one left-handed pitcher, and that is a problem. When you consider this lone left-handed reliever is Pirate set-up man Tony Watson, and the problem grows. Right now the Pittsburgh Pirates do not have a left-handed pitcher in the bullpen that Clint Hurdle can go to in the fifth or sixth inning of a game.

This is what makes Fernando Abad a trade target for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Minnesota Twins were expected to compete this season, but have been an utter train wreck. Due to this, the Twins are willing to trade a lot of pieces this summer. This included left-handed reliever Fernando Abad.

This season Abad has a 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, he has allowed just two home runs, and he is averaging 8.16 K/9. However, Abad’s control is worrisome as he is averaging 4.08 BB/9 this season. Fernando Abad is also a left specialist, hence having appeared in 34 games and having just 28 2/3 inning pitched, but Antonio Bastardo had this same moniker before coming to the Pirates last season.

Fernando Abad is a player that would fill a need for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates could really use a second left-handed reliever in their bullpen, especially with how left-handed hitting heavy the National League Central Division is. I would not be surprised to see the Pittsburgh Pirates tied to Fernando Abad in the coming weeks.

Next: Right-Handed Starting Pitching Help

Jun 15, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Right-handed starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson

After a rough 2015 season, 29-year-old Jeremy Hellickson has bounced back with the Philadelphia Phillies this season. Hellickson is a free agent to be, therefor being a rental player. In turn, this should help drive his price down some between now and August 1st. Hellickson is one player that I full expect to be traded before the month’s end.

In 105 2/3 innings pitched this season Hellickson has posted a 3.92 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and a 3.90 xFIP. Hellickson’s 3.90 xFIP is the second best xFIP of his career, and he is averaging a career best 7.92 K/9. Jeremy Hellickson has also done a great job of pounding the strike zone this season as his 2.30 BB/9 is the best he has ever posted in a full Major League season.

Jeremy Hellickson is a player that the Pittsburgh Pirates had interest in when he was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the start of the 2015 season. For this reason, one could expect Neal Huntington to kick the tires on Hellickson once again.

The only major red flag on Jeremy Hellickson is his 1.36 HR/9, but he is currently pitching in a great hitters’ park in Philadelphia. A look at Hellickson’s splits shows that he has been better away from Citizens Bank Park this season. In Philadelphia opposing batters have a .327 wOBA against Hellickson, while that drops to .319 on the road.

The Philadelphia Phillies are a team that Neal Huntington and the Pittsburgh Pirates have recently worked with. This past offseason, the Bucs traded starting pitcher Charlie Morton to the Phils. Therefor, a history exist between these two general managers. When you combine that with the Pirates’ past interest in Jeremy Hellickson, this is a trade target that makes a lot of sense.

Next: Another Left-Handed Starting Pitcher

Jul 7, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Rich Hill (18) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Left-handed starting pitcher Rich Hill

36-year-old journeyman Rich Hill is having a career year for the Oakland Athletics. In 76 innings pitched Hill has a 2.25 ERA, 2.57 FIP, and a 3.60 xFIP. Furthermore, he has allowed just two home runs and is averaging 10.66 K/9.

Rich Hill made four starts for the Boston Red Sox last season and pitched 29 innings. In those 29 innings pitched he averaged 11.17 K/9, 1.55 BB/9, and 0.62 HR/9. This resulted in him having a 1.55 ERA, 2.27 FIP, and 2.50 xFIP. This strong work led to the Oakland Athletics signing Hill to a one year deal this past offseason, and he has shown that his 29 innings with the Red Sox last season was not a fluke.

Rich Hill is a player that the Pittsburgh Pirates have been linked to in the very recent past. When Rich Hill started against the Pirates in Oakland on July 2nd, multiple teams scouted him that start including the Pittsburgh Pirates. Like Drew Pomeranz, the fact Hill is a left-handed starter should covert well to PNC Park.

Even though Rich Hill is a free agent at the end of the season, he will not come cheaply. Hill will be one of the most highly sought after starting pitchers in the next three weeks, so the Oakland A’s should have plenty of trade options to choose from. However, I expect Neal Huntington and the Pirates to be one of the teams that makes a run at Hill.

Next: Recapping The Pirates Needs

Jun 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

In recap, the Pittsburgh Pirates need to add pitching help in the next three weeks. The Pirates need bullpen and starting rotation help if they are going to make the postseason for a fourth consecutive season.

The bigger of the two needs, in my opinion, is bullpen help. The reason for this is that the Pirates have starting pitching options. Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon will both return from the disabled list this weekend, Tyler Glasnow is now Major League ready, Steven Brault showed good things in his Major League debut, and Francisco Liriano has pitched better his last four starts. I would like for the Pirates to add both rotation and bullpen help, but if I could choose just one I would choose the bullpen.

Next: Setting Up The Pirates Post-Break Rotation

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