Pittsburgh PIrates Rumors: Teams Showing Interest in Steven Brault

The Pittsburgh Pirates have their first trade rumors of the new offseason.  So what player is gaining interest on the market?

This has been a long year to be a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The team endured one of their worst seasons in franchise history and there is no real high expectation for a lot of change this offseason.  Why should there be?  The team operates in a very specific way and they always will.  Whether it be Neal Huntington or Ben Cherington, the Bucs will always limit their free agent spending.

The best way for Ben Cherington to add impact talent to the Pittsburgh Pirates will be through the trade market.  Right now, with the team coming off such a bad season, the Pirates will likely be looking to acquire prospect talent.  To do this, Cherington will have to deal away some veteran pieces.

After staying relatively quiet last offseason, Cherington could look to shake things up a little more this offseason.  Apparently, his phone has already been ringing with trade inquiries for a specific starting pitcher.  Some considered this pitcher to be the team’s best in 2020, so it makes sense why there is interest in left-hander Steven Brault.   Jon Paul Morosi of MLB Network broke the rumor this morning on Twitter:

This should come as no surprise.  Brault is coming off a career year that saw him post a 3.38 ERA across 42 innings pitched.  Brault again worked as a starter and reliever, but 10 of his 11 appearances were starts.  This obviously bolsters his value, as teams are always willing to pay for starting pitcher, especially left-handed ones.  Brault likely would demand a package of two top 30 prospects in return.

It is hard to say what teams exactly will be interested in Brault.  In the offseason, almost every team is looking to bring in starting pitcher.  The other thing is Brault is under control until the end of the 2023 season.  He is very affordable for teams that are more financially conscious.  Brault is only projected get about $2 million in arbitration.   The Toronto Blue Jays paid Robbie Ray $8 million to sign for the 2021 season and he had an ERA of almost 7.00 this past year.

Make sure to check back on the site for updates on this rumor.  We will break down what teams could matchup with the Bucs for a deal.  Steven Brault’s the first name to come up in rumors this offseason, it will be interesting to see if he is the first to be moved too.