Selling Point: Pittsburgh Pirates Who Could Get Traded At The Deadline

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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 22: Melky Cabrera #53 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on from the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on July 22, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

OF Melky Cabrera

Signed in free agency on a minor league contract, Melky Cabrera has been worth every single penny for the Pirates thus far. Entering play on Friday, in 83 games, the veteran outfielder has hit .305 with 14 doubles, six home runs, and 34 RBI over 256 AB.

With the injuries to Gregory Polanco and Corey Dickerson, Cabrera has been able to find consistent playing time, manning mostly right field and some left field in his 14th season as a big leaguer. A free agent at the end of the year, Cabrera is almost sure to walk and play elsewhere if the Pirates hold onto him through the deadline, as the outfield is crowded enough with Dickerson, Polanco, Starling Marte and Bryan Reynolds all a part of the current fold.

The wise move would be to trade Cabrera for whatever deal is out there. A mid-thirties outfielder that’s better suited in a DH role will not command much of a market, but for a contending team looking for depth, a switch-hitting veteran with a proven ability to hit for average will draw at least a couple of suitors.

Potential Destinations: TB, CLE, OAK

Verdict: Likely

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