Five Best Potential Trading Partners for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Josh Bell

San Francisco Giants

Although the Giants don’t have a handful of big time prospects, they have a handful of high ceiling and/or low floor guys in their system. By the start of 2021, the Giants could be a real threat. By then, Joey Bart should take over at catcher, with Hunter Bishop and Heliot Ramos joining the big league line-up as well.

But first base and/or DH could be an issue for the Giants. By then, current first baseman Brandon Belt will be 32, and on the last year of his contract. However, he seems to be on a decline. Last year, the veteran had posted a sub-100 OPS+, the first time in his career. While Belt did smack 17 long balls, tying the second most of his career, his slugging percentage of just .403 was the worst of his career. Former MVP Buster Posey will likely get more playing time at first, but that still does not answer what they will do when the designated hitter is implemented. Who takes over there? Belt’s bat doesn’t play well enough to stick there, and Bell would be a big time upgrade. Right now, that answer is still up in the air. Alex Dickerson could slot in DH, that is if he can keep up his production from 2019 that started to slip in the final month of 2019.

If the Giants were to trade for Bell, they could have the pieces to do so. They have a handful of interesting, high upside pitchers like Sean Hjelle, and left hander Seth Corry. Both of these pitchers would definitely be in talks if the Bucs were to talk to the Giants.

Hjelle stands at 6 foot-11 (yes, 6-foot-11), and pitched to the tune of a 3.23 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 2.85 FIP in 143.2 innings of work across three different levels of the minor leagues. However, the highest level the tall right hander has reached is Double-A. Corry on the other hand posted a 3.59 ERA and 3.38 FIP, but comes with some control concerns. The top 100 prospect had 32 walks in 57.2 innings of work